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Sri Viswanatha Swami Reminiscences

In the 1960’s, visitors coming to stay in the Ashram were very rare. But, after the release of The Mountain Path in 1964, spiritual aspirants started coming. As I was given the role of receptionist by the Ashram President, I had the opportunity to move closely with them, arrange their stay in the Ashram, take them up and around the Holy Hill, and accompany them to the Big Temple. There was a steady increase in young seekers flocking to the Ashram, especially from abroad.

I was given a tiny room near the office and under the Ashram water tank, close to the entrance to the kitchen. Those young aspirants who had come to stay in the Ashram for a few days and who were keen to learn and practise Sri Bhagavan’s Direct Teaching of Atma Vichara, would come to me and we would sit on the steps leading to the entrance to the kitchen discussing Sri Bhagavan’s Teaching.

Once, while wanting to emphasise the rational aspect of Sri Bhagavan’s Teaching, I brought in, for comparison, incidents that took place in the lives of other well-known Saints and how these had, in my opinion, glaring flaws. “For instance,’ I said, “In the life of Moses, when he led the Israelites across the desert, they became very thirsty and appealed to Moses to find water to drink. Moses was then resting in the shadow of a huge rock. In response to their plea, Moses tapped the rock with his staff and water started gushing out from the middle of it. All of them drank it and their thirst was quenched. This is the story according to the Bible.” Pausing dramatically, I continued, “This is why even good devotees dislike the ancient texts. They could have plainly written, ‘Moses pierced the earth with his staff and a spring came bubbling up.’ That is believable. But water from the middle of a rock in a desert? How is that possible?” Before I went any further, I felt a firm hand on my back. It was my most revered Viswanatha Swami! Even though he did not utter a word then, I knew from the pressure of his hand on me, that he wanted me to get up and follow him.

He took me up the Hill, straight to Skandashram, all the way, without a word. He then led me to a big rock there and made me bend down and stretch my hand underneath the rock. Wonder of wonders, I felt cool water flowing from the middle of the huge rock onto my upturned palm! Thrilled by this, I looked up at him. Holding me in a steady, affectionate gaze, he said, “Ganesan! Be very careful while talking about Sages and Saints who lived in the past or are living in the present!” He continued, “When Sri Bhagavan came down from Skandashram to live here, I was enthusiastic, naive and just as excited to meet young spiritual aspirants — like you are now!” Once, after breakfast, when I was talking to a small group about a particular Saint. I remarked how illogical it was for that Saint to have said what he said, Suddenly, I felt the pressure of a soft palm on my back. I turned and saw it was Sri Bhagavan. He started walking silently and I followed him. He took me to Skandashram as it happened to you today, and made me bend down and feel the water flowing from the middle of the rock Then he cautioned me, “Viswanatha! Be careful and respectful while talking about Sages and Saints — past or present!” After a few moments, He elaborated: “In the early days of our stay at Skandashram, the Mountain spring you see underneath to dry up completely during very hot and long summers. Visitors rarely came up. But those few who stayed with me, had to go down to Mulaippal Theertham further down on the Hill and carry up water for their use. Two of the sadhus who always stayed there, fretted on seeing more visitors come up: “Oh, no! We now have to go down and get more water!” Hearing their frustration, I responded, “Why? There should be a spring of water here itself!” Then, I took them and put my hand in a small cleft in the middle of the rock. From that moment onwards, there has been no dearth for water at Skandashram!”

I listened spell bound and then, fell at the feet of Sri Viswanatha Swami and begged his forgiveness. He embraced me, gave a benign smile full of Grace and continued, “Listen to another interesting teaching Sri Bhagavan imparted to me here, right where we are sitting. He called me one day and said, ’Viswanatha! When you take youngsters to the top of Arunachala, have you noticed the two Sacred Feet of Father Arunachala engraved on the top-most spot?” On indicating that I had not, Sri Bhagavan told me, “When you go there next, make sure that you do puja to Them. Arunachala, as you know, is ‘அடிமுடி காணா, அண்ணாமலை?’ the single, solid, complete Divinity without distinction between head and feet. It is to demonstrate this Truth that Arunachala’s Feet are engraved on top of His Head. While His head is at the foot of the Hill, inside the temple!’”

Sri Viswanatha Swami then concluded, “Ganesan! Next time you take youngsters to the top, make sure that you take some offering and do puja to Arunachala’s Sacred Feet just as Sri Bhagavan told me to. Then, chant Aksharamanimalai, (The Marital Garland of Letters) and distribute the prasad to all who came with you”

In the 1970’s, young spiritual aspirants started flocking at the Ashram in large numbers — from across India as well as from abroad. I was exceptionally happy meeting with them and sharing with them the Glory and Grandeur of Sri Bhagavan and His Teachings. This meant not just talking to them but also taking them to places in Arunachala that Bhagavan had stayed in and been to – Patala Linga, Gurumurtham, Virupaksha Cave, Skandashram, the Seven Springs and to the peak, to mention those of importance..

The first time I went up to the peak after Sri Viswanatha Swami shared with me the significance of the Lord Arunachaleswara’s Engraved Feet, I did puja to Them as he advised me. After offering idlis and bananas, I was about to begin chanting Akshramana Malai when I noticed a thick bush bearing beautiful and fragrant Hill Jasmine flowers! (There are three types of jasmine – the common garden variety, the Forest Jasmine and the highly regarded Hill Jasmine.) I was thrilled! To me, this was a sign that Holy Arunachala had blessed me to complete the puja with the ritual offering of His own flowers. After that, every time I went to the top, alone and also accompanied by other devotees, the bush would generously have 4 or 5 flowers for me to offer to Arunachala’s Sacred Feet.

Once, on the way to the peak with a group of seekers from across the World, I narrated to them about my first puja that culminated with the Hill Jasmine flowers. When we reached the top, everyone was interested to see the bush and the flowers. But to their disappointment, there was not a single flower on the bush. Feeling guilty, I went straight to the Holy Feet, fell on Them and cried, “Please forgive me, oh, Arunachala! Pardon me for flaunting my ego!” I was shedding copious tears, when two of the group, both Westerners, who were still going around the bush searching for flowers, suddenly shouted: “All of you come here! Look at the miracle of Arunachala! Come, come!” When we all ran to the bush, to our astonishment we saw five or six fully blossomed Hill Jasmine flowers, freshly plucked and placed on a large plucked leaf! Prostrating to the jasmine bush, we took the flowers, rushed to the Holy Feet and prayerfully offered them! All of us were ecstatic!

After the excitement over the mysterious and miraculous appearance of the flowers had abated, the two young Westerners confessed, “When you were narrating about your experience with the jasmine flowers on our way up, we both wondered if such a wondrous thing would ever happen to us. Yes, that it can happen to a ripe seeker like Ganesan we could accept. But, what about immature ones like us? Ganesan! It seems Arunachala heard us! And made us the ones who discovered the plucked flowers first! The sheer thrill of it is still giving us goosebumps, Ganesan!”

ANNAMALAIKKU AROHARA !

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Sri Muruganar and other senior Old Devotees used to affirm: “This is how Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Glance of Grace’ pushed in our mind into our Heart!