Chapter 5 of 10

The temple and Gurumurtam

Yet, the story was just beginning; For, His life was to be a perfect example of an ancient rishi of Upanishadic lore. Living in the World, yet completely untouched by it. He had to live, that was the Father’s will. And by His very presence and words, attract earnest souls from far and near. And guide them so profoundly and so powerfully, that seekers would not cease to seek Him with the body’s passing, but continue to flock in their thousands. And still find ‘the Peace which passeth all understanding’ at His Feet.

From the Subramanya Shrine He moved to the adjoining flower-garden and banana grove. During this time, He would sometimes also be found in the vehicle room where the large floats used for temple celebrations were stored. His body sometimes moved about even in this state, for on waking to the World He would find Himself under one of the chariots used to carry the temple’s utsava murtis during festivals. But He had no recollection of how He got there. Within the temple precincts, by the side of the road which runs along the outside temple wall, He next sat under the shade of a large iluppai tree, or in the Mangai Pillayar Shrine which was nearby.

A tall whitewashed temple gopuram above an entrance pavilion, hills behind. — *Subramanya Shrine*

Dense trees and shrubs in a garden, with the upper part of a temple tower behind. — *Flower Garden*

Banana plants in the foreground with a dark temple gopuram rising behind. — *Banana Grove*

A long pillared building with barred wooden doors between the pillars, a hill in the background; a bicycle at the left. — *‘Chariot Room’*

A large spreading tree with a fallen trunk on open ground, temple buildings in the distance. — *Shade of iluppai tree*

A small arched shrine with open iron gates, a tree behind. — *Mangai Pillayar Shrine*

Brahmana Swami was covered in grime as after that first welcoming shower of rain sent by Arunachala on his first day, he had not bothered to take a bath. Yet, the Light that He was absorbed in within, revealed Itself as a shining countenance that started attracting crowds of noisy pilgrims curious to see the young sage. To protect the young sage’s solitude, He was moved to Gurumurtam by Uddandi Nayinar, the very first attendant of Bhagavan, less than a year and a half after his arrival at Tiruvannamalai.

A small white temple with a domed roof in a clearing under trees, a conical hill behind. — *Gurumurtam Temple*

It was here that Palaniswami, the attendant who took care of Sri Bhagavan for many of His early years in Tiruvannamalai, came to him. Before coming to Sri Bhagavan, Palaniswami was a devout worshipper of Vinayaka, living on a single meal daily. One Srinivasa Iyer, seeing him at his devotions to the image, advised him: “What is the use of spending your lifetime with the stone swami? There is a young swami deep in the meditation at Gurumurtam. He is steeped in austerities like the child Dhruva mentioned in the Puranas. If you go and serve him, and adhere to him, your life would serve its purpose.” Spurred on by his encouraging words, Palaniswami went to Gurumurtam. There he saw the Swami and at once realized he had discovered his saviour. Palaniswami attended constantly on the Swami, following Him like a shadow. Receiving bits of food-offerings, he would mix them up, offer a cupful at noon to the Swami, and return the rest to those who had made the offering as prasad.

Grainy portrait of Palaniswami, an elderly bearded man with hands clasped at his chest. — *Palaniswami*

“While I was staying in Gurumurtam, Palaniswami was with me. He had a copy of the “Adhyatma Ramayanam”. Every Malayali who knows how to read invariably reads that book. Even though he did not know how to read a portion of it, somehow, he managed, albeit with many mistakes. I was at the time observing silence, and so I merely listened. After we shifted to the mango grove, to help him in the daily reading I took the book and found it to be in Malayalam script. Easily learning to read and write the Malayalam script with the help of Palaniswami, I found that what was written in that book had already been experienced by myself.”

~ Sri Bhagavan

Painted portrait of Achyutadasa, a long-bearded ascetic seated cross-legged in meditation on a mat, mountains and a temple behind. — *Achyutadasa*

It was also in Gurumurtam that Achuytadasa, a famous poet and spiritual scholar who had many disciples, came to see Bhagavan. After he had sung some in front of Sri Bhagavan, the much older Achyutadasa fell prostrate at young Sri Bhagavan’s feet, held them reverentially, and went instantly into a state of ecstasy. And when on seeing this, his disciples also wanted to touch Sri Bhagavan’s feet, Achyutadasa stopped them saying, “This is a Huge Fire. None of you can get close to it.”

Yes, the Flame that had come out from the Temple of the Fire Lingam was burning as brightly as ever!

**\* \* \***

In May 1898, after a little more than a year at Gurumurtam, Brahmana Swami moved to a neighbouring mango orchard for about six months. Bhagavan later recalled, “I was in the mango grove next to Gurumurtam for some time. Under a mango tree they erected something overhead to prevent rain from falling on me. There was, however, not enough space under it even to stretch my legs fully while sleeping. So, I used to sit almost all the time like a bird in its nest. Opposite my shelter Palaniswami also had a small shed. In that huge garden, only the two of us used to stay.”

A wide view of a grove of trees with a white wall and a small temple tower between them. — *Mango grove*

It was here that His relatives tracked Him down and brought up the question of his returning home. Subba Iyer, the uncle with whom Venkataraman had stayed in Madurai, had died and it now fell upon Subba Iyer’s brother Nelliappa Iyer to investigate the rumour that Venkataraman was a revered Swami in Tiruvannamalai. Finding his way to the orchard, he was allowed to send a note, which read: “Nelliappa Iyer, Pleader of Manamadurai, wishes to see you.” When he was finally allowed to enter, he was deeply disturbed to see his young nephew in the neglected state of an unwashed ascetic with matted hair. The Pleader must have pleaded like he had never pleaded before in an all-out effort to convince Venkataraman to return home, But to no avail. The Swami was unmoved and was as silent and still as Arunachala. The holy mountain — “Mouni aai kal pol…” Nelliappa Iyer had to accept defeat and go away. The burden of reporting to Mother Alagammal the mixed news of her son was now His.

Oval portrait of Subba Iyer, a young man in a patterned turban. — *Subba Iyer*

Oval portrait of Nelliappa Iyer in a light turban and dark buttoned coat. — *Nelliappa Iyer*

With the mango grove becoming unsuitable, Sri Bhagavan left one day for alms in the town and then wended his way to the Arunagirinathar Temple nearby. Before leaving the grove, He told Palaniswami that he should go his own way. This was a terrible blow to Palaniswami as devoted service to Brahmana Swami was his mode of worship. He went out alone as he was told, but unintentionally, or perhaps, more likely by grace, he found his way to the same temple. He pleaded with the Swami that he could not live without Him and he was allowed to stay. After about a month at this temple, Brahmana Swami took up His abode in one of the gopurams (towers) of the Big Temple and in its alari (Oleander) garden. He stayed here only for a week before going to Pavalakkunru, one of the eastern spurs of Arunachala and staying in the temple there. Though He was already followed by devotees wherever He went, He remained as before, immersed in the Bliss of Being.

A low, weathered stone temple by a dirt road, with scaffolding poles and a child standing at the right. — *Arunagirinathar Temple*

It was here that Alagammal found her son. She recognized Venkataraman immediately, despite His wasted body and matted hair. And in this holy place where aeons ago Mother Parvathi did intense penance to reunite with Lord Siva, Mother Alagammal with all a mother’s love, lamented His condition and beseeched Him to go back with her. But He sat unmoved, not answering, not even showing that He had heard. Day after day she returned. Not to give her false hopes of what could not happen, He did not respond. Finally, she enlisted the sympathy of devotees who had gathered around, pouring out her grief to them and beseeching them to intervene. The Swami’s famous reply to his mother was then given in a short note He wrote about the law of destiny :

Colour photograph of a stone temple with a tall tower on a hilltop under a cloudy sky, a tree at the left. — *Pavalakkunru*

“The Ordainer controls the fate of souls in accordance with their prarabdha karma (past actions). Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try as you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to prevent it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is to remain silent.”

Not yet ready to understand the deep Wisdom of her son’s first ever Teaching, but resigned in the face of His rock like determination, Mother Alagammal had no option but to accept her fate and leave.