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“Guru’s Words of Guidance”

When he visited the Ashram in the 1950s, after the Brahma Nirvana of Sri Bhagavan, like many other senior Old Devotees, H. C. Khanna of Kanpur, could not bear the absence of the physical Presence of Sri Bhagavan there. The other Old Devotees had already left the Ashram and had gone to the North India, in search of spiritual solace and ended up staying with Sages and Saints like Anandamayee Ma, Tapovan Maharaj and Swami Sivananda. Or, roaming about in holy places, mostly in the Himalayas.

H. C. Khanna too went to the Himalayas in search of a Mahatma who could assuage him. One day, in the isolated vastness of the snow peaked mountains, he came across a resplendent looking Sage seated in deep meditation in a cave. As Khanna was about to prostrate to him, the long-bearded Mahatma opened his eyes and asked, “Where are you coming from?” “From Arunachala,” Khanna replied. (In those days, Sri Bhagavan’s devotees identified themselves only as “Arunachala Vaasis” - Residents of Arunachala, and not as residents of their home town.)

Hearing this, the Sage got up and was about to prostrate to Khanna, who hastily prevented it, saying, “Swami! Swami! It is I who has to prostrate to you! Please, please!” He then fell fully prostrate at the Mahatma’s feet.

The Sage lifted him up and started talking with a glorious smile: “Anyone coming from Holy Arunachala is like my Master to me. For it is the Sacred and Holy Abode of my Guru, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.” He could hardly control his emotion and tears when he said Sri Bhagavan’s name. Gathering himself, he continued, “You are looking upon me as a ‘holy man’ and have come to receive my blessing. God! But do you know who I am ?” He looked at Khanna steadily and said "I come from the thickly forested hills of Madhya Pradesh. I was a feared plunderer, a robber. And I had committed not one, but eight gruesome murders. Somehow, I escaped from being identified by the police. Even my wife didn't know about it! Soon, advancing age and disease forced me to seek spiritual solace for my sinful past. In the early 1940s, I was fortunate to be directed to Holy Arunachala to meet Sri Bhagavan. Just, a look at the seated Maharshi, and I felt a big weight fall from my soul. I waited till everyone left the Hall. After some time, when Sri Bhagavan and I were alone He turned his Glance of Grace on me. How healing it was!"

I confessed to him, “Oh Bhagavan! I have committed eight gruesome murders. I escaped being caught by the police - even my wife did not know about it. Now, in my old age, my sins have caught up on me I am plagued by disease and deep anguish. The shastras say that one cannot escape the ‘karmic backlash of sinful actions’. Bhagavan! I repent each of my sins. Is there any redemption for me?"

Sri Bhagavan turned towards me, and looked at me deeply for a few minutes. Then, with a smile filled with Grace and Blessings, He said, “Yes, there is redemption! Yes, there is redemption! Yes, there is redemption!” After a pause, He emphasised, “Give up the thought, ‘I committed eight murders’, here and now!”

“As soon as Sri Bhagavan said this, I felt powerful wave of purification enveloping me and washing my entire being. My anguish had vanished and I felt cleansed of all my sins! I fell at Sri Bhagavan’s Feet in gratitude. Then, raising myself up a little, I prayed, “Bhagavan! Please guide me as to what I should do.” With a glorious smile, He commanded, ‘Go to the Himalayas and meditate!’

“Since then, I have totally lived by His Holy Command. Surrendering one’s ego to the Guru and abiding by the Guru’s Words of Guidance is a must for a spiritual aspirant to become ripe and be emancipated. Go back to holy Arunachala. Cling to Bhagavan Sri Ramana! Your purpose and goal lies at His Holy Feet. Go! Go now!”

Khanna pleaded with the Sage, “But Swami, after Sri Bhagavan dropped the body, we miss his Presence in the Ashram very much. Almost all the Old Devotees have left the Ashram because of this.”

Before Khanna could continue, the Mahatma interrupted and emphasised forcefully, “Is a Jnani the body? Then, how does His physical body’s ‘absence’ disturb you? Realise in your Heart that a Jnani is all-pervasive, ever-living and fully present in one’s Heart! Go back to the Master’s Sacred Ashram and feel his Presence. Go now!”

H.C.Khanna

After this momentous meeting in a Himalayan cave, Khanna became a regular visitor to the Ashram. What is more, he even built a comfortable Guest House for himself and his family to stay in during their annual visits!

What a remarkable turnaround experience!