Treasure Trove of Sri Bhagavan’s Grace
M.G. Shanmugam
M.G. Shanmugam, one of the early devotees of Sri Bhagavan, was so modest that he always refused to be drawn into the lime light! His book on the Tamil biography of Sri Bhagavan concluded with the early days of happenings at the present Ashram, that is, within 1930s. It is a pity that he did not complete it. Sri Bhagavan liked his version in Tamil so much that it is unfortunate no one persuaded him to complete it.
When I was fortunate to meet him, a few times, M.G. Shanmugam was not at all good in health. However, to please me he did give a few notes in Tamil on Sri Bhagavan, His teachings and his own observations on spiritual sadhana — which are now preserved in the Ashram archives — I quote a few passages.
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"During my 24 years of personal association with Bhagavan, I have noted that He seldom preached elaborately. He would give hints which keen seekers had to absorb carefully and follow faithfully in their sadhana. By close observation of Him and His actions and from occasional words and terse expressions, one could definitely learn and safely follow His teachings.
"Sri Bhagavan once said categorically: 'For practicing Atma Vichara (Self Enquiry) every day is auspicious and every moment is good — no discipline is prescribed at all. Any time, anywhere it can be done, even without others noticing that you are doing it. All other sadhanas require external objects and congenial environment, but for Atma Vichara nothing external to oneself is required. Turning the mind within is all that is necessary. While one is engaged in Atma Vichara one can with ease simultaneously attend to other activities also. Besides, Atma Vichara being a purely internal movement one does not also distract others around; whereas, in sadhanas like puja, others do notice you. One-pointed perseverance alone is essential in Self-enquiry and that is done purely inwardly, all the time. Your attention on the Self within alone is essential. ‘
"Some of Bhagavan's personal instructions to me:
(1) If you observe the breathing one-pointedly such attention will lead you spontaneously into kumbhaka (retention) — this is Jnana Pranayama.
(2) The more you humble yourself, the better it is for you, In all ways.
(3) By withdrawing the mind within, you can live anywhere and under any circumstances.
(4) You should look upon the World only as a dream.
(5) Do not allow your mind to be distracted by objective things and by thoughts. Except attending to your alloted duty — work in life, the rest of your time should be spent in Atma Nishta (meditation on the Self); Do not waste even a second in inattention, lethargy.
(6) Do not cause even the slightest hindrance or disturbance to others. Also, do all your work yourself.
(7) Both likes and dislikes should be equally discarded and eschewed.
(8) With attention focused on the first person and on the Heart within, one should relentlessly practice ‘Who am I?’ When this is done one-pointedly, one's breathing will subside of itself. During such controlled practice, the mind might suddenly spring up; so, you have to vigilantly pursue the Atma Vichara: ‘Who am I?’
To remain silent without thoughts is the ‘Whole’! To remain without thoughts is ‘Nishta’! To remain without thoughts is ‘Jnana’! To remain without thoughts is ‘Moksha’! To remain without thoughts is ‘Sahaja’!
Therefore, the state without any trace of thoughts is the Final State of Fullness, indeed!"
From M.G. Shanmugam's personal diary (in Tamil) the following interesting incidents are gathered:
"When we were living at Darapuram and I was seven years old, I was initiated into Linga puja. Such traditional bringing up gradually involved me in the study of shastras(scriptures), bhajans, saguna & nirguna dhyana and regular puja three times a day. During this period I also had three gurus. I also came to the conviction that the highest human attainment was the state of Jivanmukti. I was at Tiruchengode during 1921-1925, and was studying in the college. When I was 18 years old, I fervently prayed that I should meet a Jivanmukta and receive his blessings.
"My prayers were soon answered! My father, a Police Officer, was transferred to Tiruvannamalai. I came to know of Bhagavan Ramana living there. I gave up my studies and rushed to Arunachala. While travelling in the train towards Tiruvannamalai, at Katpadi, I had a remarkable vision of Sri Bhagavan: thus my Sat-Guru came to me and absorbed me even before I could have His physical darshan!
"I arrived at the Ashram. Bhagavan gave me a warm welcome with a benign smile. As He was seeing me for the first time, His two spontaneous utterances surprised me. Like an affectionate mother, He asked me: (i) 'When did you come' and (ii) 'How is your right hand?' My right hand was badly fractured when I was 14 years old and though it healed up, the hand remained bent and short; I used to cover it up with full sleeves and even my friends did not know this serious deformity. How did Sri Bhagavan know about it? And, what an affectionate concern He showed! After Bhagavan enquired about it, my sense of inferiority about the defect totally disappeared.
More than these, He asked me to be seated in front of Him. Gazing at Him I sat down and I do not know what happened to me then. When I got up two hours had elapsed. This was an experience I had never had before and the one I have always cherished it as the first and foremost Prasad and blessing received from my Sat-Guru. That day, I understood the purport of the statement: “The Sat-Guru ever gives unasked !” That moment I knew I had been accepted into His Fold. This strong bond He allowed me to enjoy till His Mahasamadhi in 1950, and even after.
"Daily I would go to Him, by 2 in the afternoon and return home only at 8 p.m. My father, who was a staunch devotee, was instrumental in constructing, in a remarkably short time the Old Hall where Sri Bhagavan was to stay for more than twenty years. Sri Bhagavan would quote from Ribhu Gita, Kaivalya Navaneeta, Jnana Vasistha and other Advaitic texts and explain to me their greatness. All the while I was aware that, I was in the blissful presence of a Brahmajnani — so highly extolled in all our Scriptures.
“He was a Sarvanja (all-knower) ! I got many proofs of it, though I never demanded them. A daily pocket-money of three annas was given to me by my father. I bought for that amount sambrani (incense powder) which was burnt in the presence of Sri Bhagavan. One day I did not get the amount, so I could not buy the sambrani; I refrained from going to Sri Bhagavan. The next day when I went, Sri Bhagavan remarked, graciously: “Yesterday you did not come because you could not get sambrani. Veneration in the Heart is enough!”
"My father was suddenly transferred to Vellore. None of us, particularly myself, wanted to leave Tiruvannamalai since darshan of Sri Bhagavan would be denied. We vented our grievance to Him; He gave me a benign smile. A few days after, strangely, the transfer order was cancelled! Apart from greatness of Sri Bhagavan's Presence and the tremendous Power of His Silence, I noticed the strange way the doubts in one's mind got answered through some one else present in the Hall. The doubt you had, somebody in the Hall would express to Sri Bhagavan and He would not only give the answer but look at you with a smile, as if to say 'Has your doubt been cleared?' Sri Bhagavan would be seated like a rock with eyes open for hours together and Silence would pervade the Hall; and everyone's Heart would be filled with Peace and Stillness. This Silence was His Real Teaching!
"After getting the approval of Sri Bhagavan — in the form of a nod — I was married in 1930. I came straight to Sri Bhagavan with my wife and Sri Bhagavan arranged a feast for the newly wedded couple — this was an extraordinary act of Grace! We stayed for two weeks. Sri Bhagavan also was gracious enough to be in a group photograph with my family. He was compassion incarnate. He knew I would be immensely pleased to be photographed, along with my newly wedded wife, with Him! Such a great Brahma Nishta coming down to my level of craving and arranging for a photo being taken. How Gracious!"
Outside Old Hall – M.G. Shanmugam seated to the right of Sri Bhagavan. To His left are seated Niranjanananda Swami and B.V.Narasimha Swami. Behind M.G.Shanmugam is his wife and to her right is his sister.