← Treasure Trove of Sri Bhagavan’s Grace

Namakaranam

Many devotees have known and poets have sung of the grace of Sri Bhagavan as Mother or Father, but few are aware of His charming playfulness as a grandfather interested in Namakarana (christening), to the satisfaction of all concerned, when new additions were made to devotees' families. This natural prerogative, which He enjoyed exercising, was brought into full play in the successive names He bestowed on Venkatoo's children. This series presents a beautiful story revealing the humour and humanity of Sri Bhagavan, who also officiated at the annaprasana ceremonies of these children and fed them with their first mouthful of boiled rice.

Even before Venkatoo came to Tiruvannamalai and settled at the Ashram in 1938, he used to bring his new born babes to Sri Bhagavan to receive His blessings and be named by Him. When the first son was brought to Him in 1934 and placed in His hands in the Old Hall and Athai requested Him to choose a name for the child, He lifted His head and noticed one Sundara Arya, a shy resident, unobstrusively entering the Hall, and said: Look! there he is. Does he not say, name the child after me? "So, the child got the name, SUNDARA RAMANAN, combining Sri Bhagavan's name with that of His father.

The next son, brought to Him in 1936 for naming, gave Him, as He jokingly said "No trouble at all, for he had come into the World with a name!" The implication was that, having been born on Vinayaka Chaturti (the birthday of Lord Ganesa), the baby had to be named GANESAN.

The third son was born in 1939, by which time the family had settled in Tiruvannamalai. When the infant was taken to Him for naming, Sri Bhagavan smilingly said: "This fellow too gives no trouble. He is the younger brother of Ganesa and hence is also born with a name!" Thus he came to be called SUBRAMANIAM.

The next infant, a girl, was put into Sri Bhagavan's hands in 1941, and elicited the remarks: “Though the first girl born in our family should be named Alagu or Alamelu, I would name her after my grandmother who almost sacrificed herself for the family". So, in grateful memory, the child was named LAKSHMI. The next baby girl (1944) was named by Sri Bhagavan, ALAGU, after His mother.

When the next baby girl (1946) was taken to Sri Bhagavan, He told the devotees in the Hall "I had given my grandmother's name and my mother's name to two girls. Won't Venkatoo be angry with me if I fail to give this one his mother's name?" So this child was called MANGALAM. The last baby girl (1949) was taken to Sri Bhagavan by Sadhu Kumaraswami and others who wanted to name her Alamelu, after Sri Bhagavan's sister, and were almost certain that He would make this obvious choice. But when the baby was in His hands and there was a general mumur 'Alamelu’, Sri Bhagavan gave a beaming smile and said "No, no; I have given the name of my grandmother, my mother and also Venkatoo's mother. What will poor Nagu feel if I forget her mother? Let her be called SARASWATI". Saraswati was the name of Venkatoo's mother-in-law!

“BE A CHANNEL FOR THE ‘WHITE LIGHT’ TO PASS THROUGH”!

(Rig Veda: “Be a Channel for the ‘White Light¹’ to pass through”!)

“Channels” through whom Sat-Guru Sri Ramana moulded Ganesan from his Childhood!

The Photos-presentation that follows will by itself give clarity of how magnanimous is the ‘Guru-Sadhaka’ relationship is. Sri Bhagavan’s Grace moulded (the future) sadhaka Ganesan from his childhood. Ganesan is now 88 years old = (Sri Bhagavan gave the name ‘Ganesan’ to him.)

Sri Bhagavan systematically moulded him through His Holy Presence, through His Sacred Words of instruction; and, through appropriate “Channels” at the most appropriate periods in his life as a sadhaka!

Up to the age of 24 Ganesan was allowed to wander in the outward World; and in 1960, he was drawn back by the Great Magnet BHAGAVAN Sri Ramana to stay at His Ashram, permanently and serve Him. Great and compassionate Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan and Sages and Saints moulded Ganesan spiritually, as ‘Pure Channels’ of the Great Flame of Sri Arunachala Ramana.

‘Child’ Ganesan

¹ White Light = GOD

One of the earliest group photos of Old Devotees with Sri Bhagavan (Annamalai Swami holds ‘Baby’ Ganesan in his hands)

Ganesan is being carried by Father T.N.V (to his right stands Mother Nagalakshmi, and to his left stands Alamelu Athai)

With Sri Bhagavan

Standing with Father T.N.V in front of Asharm Office(entrance)

With Sri Bhagavan (standing rightmost)

Standing to the right of Sri Bhagavan at Skandashram

In the New Hall with Sri Bhagavan (in the circle)

Ganesan was taken to Sages and Saints by one Old Devotee of Sri Bhagavan or the other, beginning with Framji Dorabji and his son Dorab Framji taking him to J. Krishnamurti, through Soona Nicholson to Nisargadatta Maharaj, through T.K.Sundaresa Iyer to Swami Ramdas and Mother Krishna Bai, through Munagala Venkataramiah to Mother Rama Devi, Balarama Reddiar to Ma Anandamayee Ma, all remarkable “Channels” for Sri Bhagavan through whom Ganesan had the greatest spiritual opportunity of benefitting by the presence and proximity of the Sages and Saints. His constant stay at Sri Bhagavan’s Ashram, enabled him to receive, serve and thereby get spiritually benefitted from them.

Please read the following salient points to have a glimpse of how Ganesan was moulded into true Spiritual Living :

1) In 1967, Ganesan met Sadhu Natanananda for the first time! Prostrated to him. Sadhu Natanananda enquired: "What sadhana are you doing? Are you practising Self-Enquiry?" Ganesan replied: "I am not capable of doing Self-Enquiry. I only chant 'Arunachala Siva', 'Arunachala Siva'! "

His face was red with rage: "What a fool you are! What do you think you have come to Sri Bhagavan for? For what purpose has He chosen you? It is only to make you "like Him"! Read His 'Forty Verses on Reality', practise Self-Enquiry! Be the TRUTH! That is why you have been chosen!"

2) Mataji Krishna Bai, Anandashram: "Before you commence your sadhana of 'Atma Vichara', prostrate THREE times to the picture of Sri Bhagavan! Chant THREE times the Guru Mantra: 'OM NAMO BHAGAVATHEY SRI RAMANAYA'! And, then only commence your inner journey of diving within into your Heart !"

3) The Hyderabad Sufi Mystic came to Sedona, USA, where Ganesan was giving a series of talks on Sri Bhagavan and His Direct Teaching of Atma Vichara, embraced him; and, said: "Ganesha! Alla Mallick has sent me from India to tell you: 'Arunachala is your 'Kshetra'! Bhagavan Ramana is your 'Guru'! 'Atma Vichara' is your mode of sadhana!"

4) Ganesan prostrated to Yogi Ramsuratkumar ; and, said:

"Swami ! Today is 'Guru Vaar'”!

"Swami lifted him up and, emotionally chocked, said: "Ganesha! Your Guru is BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI ! This Beggar's Guru also is BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI, Ganesha ! "

(l to r) G. Ramaswami Pillai, K. Natesan, Kunju Swami, Sadhu Natanananda, Ashram President T.N. VENKATARAMAN - V. Ganesan paying Tributes to Sadhu Natanananda, on his 90th Birthday

Who Am I?

Sri Bhagavan

J.Krishnamurti

Mataji Krishna Bai

Ma Anandamayee Ma

Mother Rama Devi

Nisargadatta Maharaj

Koti Swami

Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami

Nannagaru

Sri Sri Anna

Nochur ‘Ramana’

Nagalakshmi (My Mother)

Ganesan with Sastrigal Mama and Sala Mami

Sivarama Reddiar

T.K.Sundaresa Iyer

Kunju Swami

Framji Dorabji

Munagala Venkataramaih

Balarama Reddiar

Western devotees relentlessly guided Ganesan

with Robert Adams

“Ganesha ! This Beggar is always with you”

Within the Sri Ramanasramam premises

“ …Sat-sangh with Yogiji… ”

Sri Yogiji came 60 times to ‘Ananda Ramana’ to steady Ganesan in doing ‘Atma Vichara’