Vaikuntavasar
Vaikuntavasar was another simple person. From his association with saints and their elucidation of the scriptures, he understood that guru seva, or service to a master, is the surest way of attaining spiritual perfection. He went in search of a master to whom he could dedicate himself. Since he was not a learned man, he could not understand the scriptures on his own. So, what did Bhagavan do? He pulled Vaikuntavasar towards him. Bhagavan’s single look was enough to convince him that here was his master. In Vaikuntavasar’s own words, “He was God in human form. I was delighted when I was selected as Bhagavan’s personal attendant. Every moment, I was aware that I was serving God and not a human being.”
But, though Vaikuntavasar saw Bhagavan as God, it was not as though their relationship was devoid of lighter moments - far from it. One early morning in the Old Hall, when Vaikuntavasar picked up his mat from the floor to roll it, he found a snake coiled under it. In sheer fright, he exclaimed, “Bhagavan, snake, snake!” Bhagavan looked at the snake and then told Vaikuntavasar with a calming smile, “Why fear Vaikuntavasar? It is only your mattress that has come looking for you!” Bhagavan was alluding to Adisesha, the five hooded serpent who is popularly depicted as the bed on which Lord Vishnu, also known as Vaikuntavasar, reclines. This humorous remark instantly dissolved his attendant’s fear.
When I became more closely associated with Vaikuntavasar, I ventured to ask, “Can you give me instances from your life when Bhagavan actually showered his grace on you?” Vaikuntavasar said, “Once, at one o’clock in the night, I found Bhagavan walking out of the ashram, and moving towards the hill. I followed him. There was a bed of sand between Bhagavan and me. It was pitch dark, and I was trying to concentrate on the path that Bhagavan had taken. Suddenly, I heard the sound of wooden clogs moving closer and closer; the sound became louder and then went on past. Despite the sound, no one was visible. I was awestruck because I recollected Bhagavan saying that an invisible siddhapurusha lived on top of the hill, and that he was Arunachala himself. I broke into a sweat. When Bhagavan looked at me, he said, “So, you heard it!” He continued, “The siddhapurusha who resides on top of the mountain is none other than Arunachala. He can rarely be seen. It is good that you could hear him.”
These devotees of Bhagavan did not offer just physical assistance to Bhagavan. They received Bhagavan’s blessings to the fullest so that they could regain the state of perfection within themselves.
Bhagavan is holding Vaikuntavasar’s hand. The child is ‘Ramana’, son of Dr. T. N. Krishnaswami. Eknath Rao and Amrithanatha Yati are also seen.
Walking near the Ashram well (l to r) Vaikuntavasar, Sri Bhagavan, Dr. M. Anantanarayana Rao