N. Subrahmanyam

N. SUBRAHMANYAM, Ashram Priest, was endearingly called “Appichi”, and thereby hangs a tale. When 14 years old Subrahmanyam joined the Ashram's Veda Patasala in 1942, the Patasala boys decided to give themselves a nick name each and young Subrahmanyam got the sweet name "Appichi", Tamil kidword for “Sweets”, and it stuck.

When the Patasala was in limbo in the difficult days following Sri Bhagavan's Mahasamadhi in 1950, prudent Appichi did a course in Teacher Training and taught in elementary schools for a couple of years. In 1954, on the advice of Major Chadwick, Ashram Priest Kittu looked around to find a young man to help him in performing Sri Chakra Puja at the Matrubhutesvara Shrine and young Appichi who chanced to visit him, landed the job. He had never left the Ashram as he was totally dedicated and surrendered to Sri Bhagavan the ‘Timeless One’ as he would praise Him!

Appichi mama was a versatile person. A trained teacher, he was a priest, electrician, sanitary fittings expert, clock and watch mechanic, superb decorator of temple icons, and so on. All these talents were placed wholly at the service of the Ashram. During the nine evenings of Navaratri, the most talked about is the Sacred Image of Mother Yogambika, the Consort of Matrubhutesvara. The costume wizard that he was, Sri Appichi bought out the several faces and facets of the Cosmic Eve during those nine days.

Appichi had carefully studied all of Sri Bhagavan's Works in Tamil and had a clear and firm grasp of His Teachings. He was also conversant with most of the Tamil verses composed by different devotees on Sri Bhagavan. Like his colleague and neighbour, Kittu Mama, Appichi, was also devoted to his family, to the Ashram and Sri Bhagavan. They were a wonderful pair of which any Religious Institution would be proud — as the Ashram doubtless was and is.

Appichi had a short illness and passed away in 2007. Appichi was a dedicated complete human being and fully blown fragrant flower!

All Ramana-bhaktas are still feeling proud and happy that they lived while Appichi was dedicatedly serving the Ashram.

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