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2. Guru Anugraha demonstrated

Sri Bhagavan has said: “Guru’s Anugraha on the sadhaka and the exhaustion of his stored up past actions (prarabdha karma) are simultaneous and similar.” (“Vasana Kshaya and Guru Anugraha are simultaneous and similar.”)

When significant events that have happened in an aspirant’s life are shared, it can be of immense help to newer spiritual aspirants in their spiritual sadhana. I venture to share certain important events in my life and spiritual sadhana with this only purpose in mind. Needless to say, all that which happened – and continues to happen – is by Sri Bhagavan’s Grace!

There were three important stages of growth in my spiritual sadhana:

i) Eleanor Pauline Noye’s proximity, touch and blessings when I was very young. ii) Holy Varanasi, Lord Viswanatha, Mother Annapoorni, Mother Ganga and the bhairagis. iii) Sri Ramanasramam: Stay, Service and Surrender — the three very important ingredients to immerse within spiritually, for an aspiring spiritual sadhaka.

The beauty about these three milestones is that each of them was also a sluice gate through which a major load of karma was washed away.

1. Eleanor Pauline Noye

When I was two or three years old, I used to eagerly go and stand up in front of Sri Bhagavan’s sofa, whether He was seated inside the Old Hall or outside. My sacred mother, Nagu, had trained me to focus my gaze on only Sri Bhagavan — without getting distracted by the presence of others. In response, Sri Bhagavan too would gaze steadily at me, the ‘baby’ Ganesan.

One day, Sri Bhagavan was seated in the Jubilee Hall, a big thatched shed outside the Old Hall. I went straight to Him, did namaskar and started gazing at Him! Noticing this, Sri Bhagavan told me, “அதோ பார்! நோயி அங்கே உக்காந்திருக்கா -- அவ மடியிலே போய் உக்காந்துக்கோ!” “Look! Noye is sitting there. Go and sit on her lap!” Hearing this, I toddled my way through the crowd of devotees and promptly plonked myself on her lap. After this, every time I went to the Jubilee Hall when Sri Bhagavan was seated there, the same drama would get re-enacted!

Though a seemingly negligible act, this was similar to the very tiny seed of a huge Banyan tree! The seed was my sitting on Noye’s lap, the tree was me travelling seven times to the US for delivering talks on Sri Bhagavan and His Teachings!

When I was ten years old, Mrs. Noye had already gone back home to California. She was a poor lady, but filled with surrendered devotion to Sri Bhagavan. Twice every year, on Sri Bhagavan’s Jayanthi and on Maha Puja — Mother Alagamma’s death anniversary — she used to send five US dollars to Sri Bhagavan with a short letter to Him, and one dollar each with an accompanying letter to the attendant Krishnaswami and to me. All these were sent in one envelope addressed to Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan would call me and say, “Ganesa! Your Noye has sent you a gift of one dollar. Take it!” He would give it or send it to me through attendant Krishnaswami, depending on whether I was then seated in the Hall or not.

No doubt, my prarabdha of having to travel to the US was strengthened by my receiving money from the American lady Eleanor Pauline Noye! How Guru Ramana exhausted this prarabdha of mine is very interesting!

The famous composer and Music Director, Illayaraja, used to visit the Ashram quite often in the 1980s and 1990s. I was fascinated by his devotion and dedication in taking time out for his spiritual aspirations in spite of being extremely busy as the topmost and most sought-after Music Director in South India. We somehow became close friends and spent a lot of time together — doing Giri Pradhakshina, going round the Holy Hill through the inner forest path, climbing up to the summit and meditating in Sri Bhagavan’s Old Hall.

He was also keen in meeting Sages who were still physically present. Coming to know that I had got my spiritual guidance directly from Mother Krishna Bai of Kanhangad, he urged me to take him to Sages and Saints I had the fortune of meeting. Over the next few months, we went together to see Yogi Ramsuratkumar — then living in Tiruvannamalai’s Sannathi Street, Mother Mayee Ma, Koti Swami and Papaji.

During one of our visits to Puravipalayam to be with Sri Koti Swami, the Saint looked pointedly at me and said, “Koti planes! Koti people! Koti happiness!” (Koti in Tamil means ‘one crore’,’ten million’). None could understand what he meant. When we returned to Arunachala, we went and told Yogi Ramsuratkumar what Koti Thatha had said. He laughed aloud and replied, “Can’t you see? He is saying that Ganesa has to travel abroad by plane many times to give talks on Sri Bhagavan’s Teachings and that it would make the spiritual aspirants there very happy!”

Sometime back, Swami (I called Yogiji ‘Swami’) had urged: “Ganesa! Father says you have to go to America and give talks on Sri Bhagavan’s Direct Teaching!” I silently dismissed the possibility. For in those days, I didn't even want to leave the Ashram compound. Swami continued, “This beggar was also urging you to go abroad. You are the Swami Vivekananda of our Sri Bhagavan, Ganesa! You have to go, says my Father!”

Strangely, the next day, I got a letter from Sri Bhagavan’s German devotee, Charles Madigan, from Hamburg. “Ganesan! As I own and manage a Hotel here, I am unable to come there to have sat-sangh. Please come over here and spend a few weeks with me, sharing Sri Bhagavan’s Teachings as you have heard directly from His Old Devotees. Say ‘yes,’ and I shall immediately send you a return Air Ticket. Please come!”

When I showed this letter to Swami, he read it, looked at me and said with all seriousness, “Please ask your German friend whether he can extend the Air Ticket from Germany to the US too!”

I did as I was guided by Swami. By the very next post, I got an affirmative reply from Charles: “Of course, I can and I will Ganesan! Please accept my invitation. I am grateful to your Swami ! Now, I am eager to have Swami’s darshan too and I pray that this also takes place! And, why just the US! I will send you an ‘Around-the-World-Ticket’, which includes Germany, France, England, USA and Asian countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Sri Lanka.” Yogiji was very happy over the generosity of dear Charles!

The next challenge — that of arranging my multi-city tour in the US — was just as easily overcome. My very close friends, Joan and Mathew Greenblatt, with whom I had worked for one year at Arunachala to bring out the remarkable book, Ramana Pictorial Biography, were more than ready to help. There could not have been a better arrangement, for this devout couple not only hosted me and arranged for my talks in various centres, but also accompanied me throughout my tour! The couple’s presence was proof that Sri Bhagavan was arranging for everything through Yogi Ramsuratkumar!

After this first trip, every year, Swami would tell me, “Ganesa! This year also, you will have to go to America and give talks!” Some American devotee would voluntarily buy me my Air Ticket — every year a different American devotee! Seven years passed thus! My vasana to travel to America was exhausted very smoothly and without strain for anyone, including me!

And just as easily this portion of my prarabdha was washed away, so too were the load of the other two — in the Powerful Flood of the Sat-Guru Sri Ramana's Anugraha!

* * *

2. Holy Varanasi

In 1960, when I was employed in Bombay as a sub-editor in a newspaper, I was traumatised by the death of a near and dear one in Tiruvannamalai. Falling into a state of altered consciousness, I went about my work mechanically like a robot, not fully aware of what I was doing. One day, I got out from my room and felt I was going by tram to my office… when, after some hours, I realised I was on a train going to Varanasi! I was pleasantly shocked!

There was a compassionate and elderly man seated next to me. He was very kind to me. He seemed to have clearly understood my altered state of consciousness. He gave me food, tucked me into my berth at night, and generally made sure I was comfortable and safe, until the train reached Varanasi.

“Travels in Overseas Countries” -- with Grace and Blessings from Saints

1990 -- London, U.S.A

RAMANA KENDRA, LONDON: On inauguration day, Ganesan meets with Ramana devotees from France

LONDON

Durham, USA

“All the travelling that I had done to share with spiritual aspirants Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Direct Teaching’ -- in Europe, USA, Canada and elsewhere -- was done on Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s commandment only.”

CALIFORNIA

“Travels in Overseas Countries” -- with Grace and Blessings from Saints

1991 -- U.S.A

Arunachala Ashrama NewYork

Arunachala Ashrama Nova Scotia Canada

Ganesan addressing his first talk in AHAM Center,Asheboro, NC,USA

Devotees raptly listening to the talk : ‘No Fire, No Food’

Lands at Hamburg Airport and stands under the protection of ‘RAMA’ !

Yogi Ramsuratkumar said : “Oh ! Can’t you see! ‘Koti Thatha’ is blessing you to go abroad ! He is implying that you will be flying -- many times too; and, be giving talks on our Beloved Bhagavan’s Teaching benefitting many people there, thereby making them very happy ! ”

Along with staunch Ramana devotees Trudel Elsaesser and Karin Stagemann

at Boston

in Florida

with David Lawrence and Barbara Rose

“Travels in Overseas Countries” -- with Grace and Blessings from Saints

1990-1992 -- Italy and U.S.A

In front of the famous Dome of St.Peter’s Cathedral in Rome

Enthralling the visit along with hosts

The famous Statue of the “chained St.Peter”

Feeling being blessed by the Holy Water from the ‘Miracle Well’ inside the underground cellar wherein St.Peter was chained and imprisoned

ITALY

Santa Fe : the Oldest and first Church in U.S.A

Inside the Church

“Suddenly, ‘Koti Swami’ gave out a big laughter and said: ‘Oh! I see ‘Koti’ (ten million) planes, ‘Koti’ airplanes ! ‘ Koti’ people ! ‘Koti’ happiness to all ! .”

A view of the mountain near J.Krishnamurti’s cottage, reminiscent of Arunachala

‘HOPI’ elder, Mr.Thomas Banyacya listens to Ganesan on Sri Bhagavan. Mrs.Carmen seated to his left

SAN DIEGO: with Dr. Alan Anderson and Dr. Robert Powell

“Travels in Overseas Countries” -- with Grace and Blessings from Saints

1992-1994 -- Japan, Hong Kong

NARA, Japan : The biggest bronze statue of BUDDHA

Zen Monastries

Ganesan, Anuradha along with Prof.Tadashi Yanagida (second from left - standing)

At Kyoto

At Kyoto

“Only a few years later, Yogi Ramsuratkumar gave me a firm direction that I should go abroad and give talks on Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Direct Teaching’ of WHO AM I ?”

At Hong Kong

At Shibuya City Hall,Tokyo

Noticing that I was not carrying any baggage, at Varanasi he took me and got me a small, bare room in a choultry. After making sure that I was safely ensconced in it, he told me, “I have paid one day’s room rent. It includes morning tea. Get up early in the morning at around five, go to Dasaswamedha Ghat, take a bath in the Holy Ganga, and after that go straight to Sri Viswanatha Temple and offer puja to Him. Lord Viswanatha will bless you and take care of you! I am going away to Gaya at two in the morning. I pray that you are well taken care of!” Saying this, he left even before I could thank him properly!

Next morning, following my elderly friend’s advice, I went to the temple with a small flower basket after my bath. There was already a crowd of bhaktas in a queue to enter the sanctum sanctorum. When my turn came, an old and venerable looking priest guided me to the deity, “Bow, bow down, and putting the garland around Lord Viswanatha, embrace Him!” I did exactly as he advised.

After seven days, I came to my normal consciousness and became aware that I was lying beside a deep gutter — a small distance away from the Temple. An old policeman who happened to come that way, took me to the Government Hospital and admitted me.

While lying on the Hospital bed, I completely lost my consciousness. Before losing it, I heard the old policeman speaking to me in Hindi and enquiring repeatedly: “Child! What is your name? Where are you coming from?” I heard him and replied, “My name is Ganesan and I am coming from Arunachala.” But my voice being inaudible, the policeman did not hear it and went home.

That day the Hospital staff found my condition had deteriorated so much because of purging and vomiting, that they had to call the Doctor. I was told later that he examined me and declared that I would be dead in an hour or two. Consequently, I was put in the mortuary to free my bed for another incoming patient. The next day when the policeman came, he was shocked that I was put in the mortuary because I was dying. But, perhaps, hoping that I would somehow survive, he came to where I was lying in the mortuary.

There, amidst the filthy and gloomy surroundings, he pleaded softly in my ears, “Beta!, Don’t die. You have to live, you are young, do not give up.” Then, on checking me for some sign of life, and feeling the faint ticking of my heart, he ran to the Doctor. But the Doctor was adamant. The policeman then begged some medical students who were assisting the Doctor to come and examine me. One of them, finding my Heart still beating faintly, took me back into the ward and put me on a mat on the ground. The policeman went on begging me not to die but to come back to life. After two days, I regained consciousness to the extent of being able to whisper audibly and coherently to the old policeman, the name of a devotee of Sri Bhagavan who lived in Varanasi: “Dr. S. Nath, Eye Specialist, Kashi”. Relieved and happy, the policeman contacted Dr. Nath who came and took me to his house.

At Dr. Nath’s house, he found out that my back had a bad wound that was septic. This was the result of some bhairagis branding my back to revive me when I was lying beside the gutter, before the old policeman found me and admitted me to the Hospital. After applying some medicines on the wound, Dr. Nath sent a telegram to my father. My father immediately rushed from Arunachala to Kashi.

Lord Viswanatha

Mother Annapoorni

Ganga Mata

Both my father and Dr. Nath decided I should be taken to Chennai, then called Madras, and be given treatment there. I was still bed-ridden and in an altered state of consciousness. When they were ready to take me to the Railway Station, I refused to go without them finding and rewarding the old policeman who had saved me. Dr. Nath searched high and low for him. He enquired in every police station in Varanasi. But there was no trace of the old policeman! Who else could it be but Sat-Guru Sri Ramana Himself!

At Madras, Dr. T. N. Krishnaswami, another staunch devotee of Sri Bhagavan, examined my back and felt strongly that I should be admitted immediately for an emergency surgery, failing which I could be paralysed for life.

However, I refused, “I will be treated only by Dr. M. R. Krishnamurthy Iyer in Tiruvannamalai.” I do not know what urged me to say this. My father said, “We are not on talking terms with Krishnamurthy Iyer. We haven’t been in touch with him for over a decade now. How can I go and ask him to attend on you?” I replied, “I don’t know.” My father took me home and my mother said, “Go to Krishnamurthy Iyer.” My father was reluctant. He said, “How can I possibly face him?” However, my father went, and Krishnamurthy said, “Yes, I will come, but under two conditions. When I am treating him, no one should enter the room. And you should not give me a time limit. You should also not question me on the treatment and the nature of the medicines I am going to give him.”

Krishnamurthy Iyer treated me for two months. While I was lying all the time on my stomach, he applied medicines on the deep sores on my back. More importantly, during those moments, he shared with me his mystical relationship with Sri Bhagavan and Arunachala. It was very elevating and healing. I felt that more than the potency and efficacy of his medicines, it was the spiritual sharing that effected speedy healing of my wound and cured me fully. He once shared with me, “Arunachala and Sri Ramana are the same. Sri Bhagavan has left the key of Self-Enquiry in Arunachala. The Bible says, ‘Ask, and it shall be given; knock, and it shall be opened.’ That is true literally. If you ask Arunachala, He will give you the ‘key’ to Self-Enquiry, which is to dive within.

Later, Krishnamurthy Iyer started going around the Hill daily. He could also be seen walking around Sri Arunachaleswara Temple and sometimes wandering in the streets in an ecstatic state. People in the town openly said that he had gone ‘mad’. He would visit the Ashram while doing the giripradakshina, stand ecstatically in front of Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine and sing songs on Sri Bhagavan and on Arunachala at the top of his voice. I would prostrate to him and he would give me a smile of recognition, but also point to Sri Bhagavan’s shrine, indicating that Sri Bhagavan alone deserved the prostrations. I could feel that he was being inundated by wave after wave of mystical experiences, all the time.

During his last days, he had an extraordinary experience. He said that Lord Arunachaleshwara had informed him that the wheels of the big chariot on which the deity is taken during festival days would break and that he should ask the temple’s committee to repair it. The committee members did not pay attention to the doctor’s words because they thought he was insane. However, when the chariot came near his house, it did break down. For three days, Krishnamurthy Iyer was on the terrace of his house looking at the chariot intently, unmindful of the scorching heat of the Sun. He locked the terrace door and did not come down. On the third day, for some strange reason, I had the inclination of visiting him when I was going round the Hill. His wife said, “What can we do? We have not seen him for three days. He is upstairs and we dare not even knock on the door.” As his wife was talking to me, Krishnamurthy Iyer entered and queried, “Has Ganesan come?” He asked his wife to leave us alone. I prostrated before him. Despite his skin being tanned dark by the summer Sun, he was glowing with an ‘inner Light’. He told me, “Ganesan! Arunachala has called me. I am leaving. I bless you. Do not swerve from this path. Arunachala will save you. Stay here.” He passed away after a few days. Arunachala had absorbed him in His Light!

In my altered consciousness, I should have prayed to Lord Viswanatha, Mother Annapoorni, Ganga Mata that if I survived and rose up alive, I would pay my respects to them. Twenty years later, the compassionate Siddhapurusha, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, intuited my promise to Lord Viswanatha and ordered me, “Ganesa, it is your prarabdha to go stay in holy Kashi for a full year — not one day less, not one day more. Go!”

I reached Kashi on a Wednesday. I was welcomed in Krishnamurti Foundation India and given a cottage to stay in and Badri, a Nepali boy, to look after the cottage and me. The very next day, on blessed Guruvaar, dear Badri told me in a commanding voice: “Sadhu Swami! Tomorrow, I will give you tea early in the morning. After that, you must go to Lord Viswanatha’s Temple. Sit there, have His darshan and offer your prayers from 7 to 1. Then, from 1 to 3.30 p.m. go and sit in Mother Annapoorni’s Temple and pray there. After that, go to the banks of Ganga Mata, meditate there till 7 p.m. and return here before 9 p.m. I will have your dinner ready and serve it to you. Let this be your routine every day of the week. One thing more, Sadhu Swami, on Fridays you should not eat anything through the day.”

Recognising that a young servant boy would never on his own order his new master, thus, I accepted his command reverentially as my Guru’s Anugraha. All the 365 days of my stay at KFI, I meticulously attended to my Puja routine as dictated by Badri. My servant was my Master !

3. Sri Ramanasramam

After being treated by Dr. Krishnamurthy Iyer as an in-patient in my own house for two months, I regained my health under the tender care of my mother. The day she saw I was fully fine, she bade me to enter the Ashram with the express instruction: “Never go out of the Ashram. Stay there assisting your father in his role as its President and serve all the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan who reside there.”

Stepping in through the Ashram’s gate, the first person I saw from under the benign shade of the gnarled and ancient illupai tree was my beloved Arthur Osborne. He was standing on the steps, almost as if to welcome me! “Come Ganesan! We all knew you would come! Welcome! Go straight to Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi. And pray to Sri Bhagavan only for His Anugraha, His Grace. Don’t ask for anything else. Being the most Powerful and Compassionate, He can and will readily grant your prayers for wealth, power, position, a loving wife, children…anything! He will give them all to you but will send you away! So, be careful! Pray only for His Grace and He will shower you with It and also keep you here at His Feet in Arunachala.” I was wonderstruck and overwhelmed with gratitude with how Sri Bhagavan was guiding me through Arthur Osborne to take to Spiritual Life in toto!

When after praying to Sri Bhagavan as advised by Osborne I reported to my father, he asked me to work under the manager of the Book Depot, Sri Sivarama Reddiar. By working under Sivarama Reddiar, I learnt, not just intellectually but by experience, that to work under a Jnani is the best way for a sadhaka to live in the World without getting lost in it. Without a doubt, Sri Bhagavan had made this arrangement, through my father the Ashram President, to ripen me spiritually.

During the day, I would work in the Book Depot and in the evening go up the Holy Hill. Returning to the Ashram before dark, I would help serve dinner and then eat along with the cooks. After that, it was time to spread my straw mat for the night, not in the Men’s Guest House, but right in front of Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine — only a thatched shed at that time. As for my pillow, it was a block of wood. That was all that the Ashram could afford to give anyone who slept in its premises — a straw mat and a block of wood. Yet, I would dare say, the sleep I had then was more refreshing than any sleep on a soft mattress or pillow, since then!

Months rolled by with me following the same routine. One day, I asked Sivarama Reddiar, “When I look at you, you seem to be an ordinary person like anyone else, Yet, you are always so calm and so poised in Silence — I feel like sitting next to you all the time. What happened to you? Tell me.” He replied, “There is nothing. I am just like everyone else.” I did not leave him. Day after day I pestered him, “There is something special about you. Please tell me what it is.” Since he did not relent, I altered the pattern of my questioning: “Have you never had any doubt in spiritual matters?” That worked ! He disclosed, “Till 1931, I was studiously following the taraka mantra for twenty years and the Shanmuki Upasana for ten years. As a result, I experienced a ‘light’ all around me and also a sense of ‘exhilaration’. Yet, deep within, I had a doubt about the reality of that state. In 1934, I reverentially placed this doubt of mine before Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan was gracious enough to reply, “Yes, that is the state of ‘nididhyasana’. You heard the guru instruct you, which is ‘sravana’. You assimilated his teaching, which is ‘manana’ and now, you experience it, which is ‘nididhyasana’. But, this is still on the level of ‘triputi’, the threefold illusion of seer, seen and seeing. You have to go beyond that and find out who is the ‘I’ that experiences the ‘light’ and ‘exhilaration’. ‘Light’ and ‘exhilaration’ exist to someone. Find out who that is.” Sivarama Reddiar continued, “Even before Sri Bhagavan explained this to me, I knew about ‘triputi’ and the need to transcend it — but only intellectually. Only in the presence of the Sat-Guru did I grasp it as a practical Reality, as a True, Living Experience. Like a downpour of cooling Grace, the experience of ‘I’ transcending the ‘triputi’ descended on me and that powerful and supreme state of Silence enveloped me. That was my final initiation. That state of Bliss continues without a gap.” For thirty years from 1934, he worked in the Book Depot as a manager with the limited work of packing and selling which he used to do himself. No ordinary candle, he lived in that inner state of ‘light’ all the time. I assisted him for four happy years. For me, it was a deep and profound experience to work closely with a person who was living the Ultimate Reality, consciously, all the time. In that presence, I felt an even greater sense of reverence towards Sivarama Reddiar who was so profusely blessed by Sri Bhagavan.

Front Entrance of Sri Ramanasramam

When I came to the Ashram in 1960, I had taken three vows of my own accord. I thought they were essential for leading a spiritual life: “I will not touch money; I will not sign my name; I will not look at women.” Though visitors used to come very rarely, if a woman or a family came to buy books, I would get up and go away. To close the accounts in the evening, I would assist Reddiar in writing the accounts, but he had to count the cash as I wouldn’t touch it. Moreover, when it came to signing invoices or receipts, I would fill in the details but give them to him to sign. What I didn’t know was that he was noticing all this. Realized people do not jump to conclusions and do not judge others — he observed me quietly for three or four months. He used to sleep under a thatched shed in front of the old Book Depot. One night, he called me around nine, “Ganesu, come here.” He used to have terrible asthma attacks. Whenever he had one, he would call me and I would rush to him to help him in any small way I could — giving him hot-water-bag fomentation, fanning him, etc. I thought he was having another such attack and hurried to his side. “Sit down next to me,” he told me. “I have been observing you all these months. You do not touch money, you do not sign in any invoice and whenever a woman of any age comes in to the Book Depot, you run away. What is the matter with you?”

I told him about the three vows I had taken to help me stay on the spiritual path. “Oh, that is good,” he replied, “But you have practiced it enough. Now, ponder over your actions. What is wrong with money? Touching money is not a sin, attachment to money is.” He didn’t say it as an argument or as an instruction. He was sharing from the Heart and it naturally went straight into mine. He continued, “What is wrong in signing a name? Were you born with the name? Your parents gave you the name. You should not be attached to the ‘body’. By giving up the ‘name’ you have not given up your attachment to the ‘body’. Give up the idea ‘I-am-the-body’. For you Ganesu, Sri Bhagavan Himself gave you the ‘name’. See, how holy that ‘name’ is.” From that moment onwards, I stuck to my name. Regarding my third vow, Reddiar said, “Are you aware that when you ignore ‘women’, you are insulting the Creator? It is the Higher Power that has created ‘male’ and ‘female’ forms — in humans, animals, birds, other creatures, trees, plants and why, even rocks. By not giving the importance due to the ‘female’ aspect, you are denying one entire half of the Principle of Creation. Is this right? Is this necessary? To transcend this obstacle, love all ‘women’ unconditionally as ‘Mothers’. The more deeply you love them, the greater will be the devotion that wells up in you for the Creator. Ignoring one half of the ‘work’ of the Creator will by itself become a very great impediment in your spiritual practice and progress.” Since then, I started truly loving all ‘women’ as my own ‘Mothers’, as my own ‘sisters’.

When I was staying within the premises of the Ashram, from nine to half past eleven at night I used to walk alone around the Holy Hill. I would then get up around half past three, sweep around the Samadhi with a broom, then the Old Hall after which I would go to the kitchen. The gracious and old Raja Iyer would be already there, preparing to make idlis. He used to give me a couple of them to eat along with a cup of milk to drink. Then, after my morning exercises, I would take my bath and pluck flowers from the flower garden behind the Old Hall to offer at Sri Bhagavan’s and the Mother’s Shrines. Now it would be time for the milk-offering puja at Sri Bhagavan’s Shrine. As soon as that was over, ring the bell for breakfast at seven, serve ghee or oil to the rows of people sitting to eat in the Old Dining Hall. Eight o’ clock would find me seated in front of the typewriter inside the office — clearing the pending correspondence work or typing old manuscripts for printing a book. Nine to eleven, I would keep myself busy attending to the letters that had arrived that day and sending the appropriate response. My teacher, Pundit T. K. Sundaresa Iyer, used to guide me in drafting replies to seekers who wrote seeking spiritual clarifications. Then, at half past eleven, it was time to ring the bell for lunch and go inside to pour a generous spoon of ghee on the banana leaf plates of those who were sitting for their lunch.

There were only eight residents then, including a servant named ‘Bheeman’, and two maid-servants who came from town. No visitors! Only one cook, assisted by two lady-cooks — Sankaramma and Subbulakshmi Amma. (Until they were joined later by Sampoorna Amma). After serving them, I would eat along with the cooks. No siesta for me in those days! Though one of the old devotees, Sama Thatha, who ignored my protestations — probably because he was stone deaf – and forcefully make me lie down and close my eyes!

Evening, by five, the letters I had typed earlier that day, had to be posted. With that, my office duty was over for the day and I was free to climb the Holy Hill and meditate, seated on my favourite rock. Half past seven, the bell for dinner, help serve dinner and the curtains would come down on another day at Sri Ramanasramam. The above was my austere daily routine!

Once in a regular while, at the end of the day, the Ashram cashier would — for fun — shake the cash box and put it upside down to indicate it was empty and not even a penny in donation had come.

On one such day, I remembered what my friend in Bombay had told me when I was working there for a newspaper: A simple and legal way to get donations was to bring out a Souvenir and collect advertisements for it from businesses and companies. That way, no individual would be straining his finances by giving donations to a good cause. It was for me, a Eureka moment!

The Mountain Path

In 1956-58, after taking my B.A. degree, I was in the Ashram for two years. Though my father wanted me to pursue higher studies, I stoutly refused as we could ill afford the expense. All my brothers and sisters were in the colleges and schools and my father was struggling to make both ends meet. I decided to seek some employment and thus support my family rather than be another burden on it. The two years I spent in the Ashram were memorable, indeed!

Though I was not spiritually inclined then and had no thought of settling down to a seeker's life, both Major Chadwick and Mr. Arthur Osborne, independently and at different times, told me that as indicated in my horoscope, I would be living in the Ashram as a serious seeker, dedicated to matters spiritual. During this period, I saw how the Ashram was suffering from paucity of funds.

However, thanks to Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan, I joined for M.A. Philosophy, since during his visit to the Ashram, he pleaded with me to join the course as from that year — for the first time in an University — Sri Bhagavan’s philosophy had been admitted as an academic course in the Post Graduate course in Philosophy. “If you join, I would feel honoured that Sri Bhagavan had approved of my tireless efforts!”. A new vista opened in my life by the study of eastern and western philosophies. Post-graduation completed, I was thrust into a Bank job, where I completely confined. Then, through Professor K. Swaminathan I got a post as sub-editor in a daily newspaper in Bombay. I liked the work. On a visit to my colleague's apartment in Colaba, he explained to me how a magazine could fetch money through advertisements. At that time, I heard him and promptly forgot about it.

I soon found that life in Bombay was far from soul-satisfying. I was unhappy. Due to various causes and circumstances, I returned for good to the Ashram, with the full consent of my parents, to serve Sri Bhagavan's devotees, particularly the older ones. In course of time, not surprisingly, my relatives were upset that, while my sisters and brothers were getting married, I was not. My father, on the other hand, was happy with my work at the Ashram as I plunged myself whole-heartedly into Sri Bhagavan's seva (service).

In addition, I enjoyed the blissful and serene company of Muruganar, Major Chadwick, A. Devaraja Mudaliar, Arthur Osborne, S.S. Cohen, Munagala Venkataramaiah, T.K. Sundaresa Iyer, Sadhu Om, Viswanatha Swami, Kunju Swami, N. Balarama Reddiar and others.

In 1963, there was a crisis in the Ashram’s finances. It struck me one day that I probably could do something tangible to help save the Ashram from this dire situation. The long-forgotten conversation I had had with my friend in Colaba at Bombay came to mind. Yes! That was it! I could help the Ashram by bringing out a yearly magazine! At that time, I was also helping with replying to the letters and queries of devotees from far and near. Many of them were keen on knowing about whether the Ashram was being run as of old and if so, what its activities were. T. K. Sundaresa Iyer and L. P. Koppikar were in charge of the correspondence section, and I was being trained by them. I used to see the draft of Arthur Osborne's replies to letters demanding spiritual clarifications. I used to be spellbound by his brief and aptly worded replies. Yes! Here was the solution! I resolved to prepare a yearly bulletin that would report the happenings at the Ashram, print excerpts from letters of devotees and the Ashram’s replies, have the material polished by Arthur Osborne, and carry in it as many advertisements as possible, thus helping both the Ashram and devotees across India and the rest of the World.

Rushing excitedly to Osborne's house, I explained to him this idea of a yearly bulletin and how it could financially help the Ashram while simultaneously keep devotees informed about the present working of the Ashram. I sought his blessings and active cooperation. He listened with keen attention. When I finished, he held my hands and shed tears of joy! I had never seen him so deeply moved.

"Ganesan! You do not know what a blessing you have brought me today. A few weeks back, I had a dream in which Sri Bhagavan appeared. I knelt before Him. He had a few copies of a magazine which He handed over to me, saying, 'Take it'. I understood the message to mean that He wanted me to be an Editor! I had to obey my Master's wish. But, where would I fit in, in India? My elder brother is the reputed Editor of the U.K. magazine, The Economist. Was I to seek employment under him, I wondered. I was pained at the thought for I would even leave Arunachala if that was Sri Bhagavan’s command. Now, I know what Sri Bhagavan meant. What a joy!"

He continued with great vigour, "You know, Ganesan! During the lifetime of Sri Bhagavan and even afterwards, I was asked by many times by many devotees to start and run a journal for the Ashram. I refused. Sri Bhagavan's Teaching is meant only for practice, I felt. What is there to write about, that too in a journal that would be published regularly? I knew I disappointed my close friends like Dr. T. N. Krishnaswami and D. S. Sastri. But I stood firm. Now, Sri Bhagavan has commanded me to spread His Teaching of Atma Vichara, through the medium of this journal which we are going to start!"

I was thrilled by his enthusiasm and exchanged views on the plans for the journal. It was agreed then that it would be published as a yearly and would have: (i) an Editorial, (ii) important articles based only on the practical side of sadhana, (iii) Book Reviews, (iv) Letters to the Editor and (v) an Ashram Bulletin, covering the happenings at the Ashram. He agreed to be its sole Editor. He advised me to consult Dr. T. N. Krishnaswami. When I met him at Madras, Dr. T. N. K. was overjoyed, but pleaded that it should not be a yearly but a monthly journal. Mr. Osborne felt that a monthly would involve too much work and there might not be enough material of high quality. He added that it would interfere with our regular sadhana. I went back to Madras again, and with Dr. T. N. K.'s consent it was decided that the journal should be a quarterly. He also gave a cheque for Rs.100, to start it off. This was our first Life Subscription! It was the beginning of September 1963.

Then, I sought the counsel of D. S. Sastri, who happened to come to the Ashram at that time. Mr. Sastri was firm that I should be the Publisher and Owner of the journal, but I was equally firm that it should be an Ashram Journal and that its President, Sri. T. N. Venkataraman, should be the journal’s Publisher. After prolonged persuasion by Mr. Sastri, I however, agreed to be its Managing Editor.

Mr. Arthur Osborne was not only a steady, strenuous worker, but very quick and precise. He collected the articles in a remarkably short time. There was another big question mark. How should we name the journal? Again, it was Mr. Osborne, who came out with the brilliant title The Mountain Path — the Mountain standing for Arunachala and Path for the right-royal path of Sri Bhagavan’s Vichara Marga!

The next item to be decided was the subscription fee. But, as luck, or rather, Grace would have it, the very next day, a money order of Rs. 5/- arrived from one Mr. H. R. Chadha of Calcutta, whom we hardly knew. In the money order coupon it was written: "The annual subscription for the Ashram journal. More details follow in my letter". Yes! Sri Bhagavan again had decided what the annual subscription should be. We were happy. The letter arrived and it read: "I had lost touch with the Ashram. Sri Bhagavan, whom I met in the later thirties, is my Guru. He still is my all! The other day, He appeared to me in the dream, showed me a Journal and I saw clearly Rs. 5/- written on the cover. I take it that there is an Ashram Journal. Please enrol me as a subscriber". The first annual subscriber for yet to be printed journal was Mr. Chadha!

I did not know how to collect advertisements. Before printing the rate-cards, I had sent letters of request for a few. Sri M. A. Chidambaram, the reputed industrialist and philanthropist, was the first to respond with Rs. 250!

I started my hunt for advertisements in Madras. I used to meet many businessmen — big and small — and beg them for advertisements. For days I would walk the streets of Madras. Some received me with happiness, but many hurt and humiliated me. But, I never gave up. Finally, I managed to collect twenty-three pages of advertisements for the first issue. I thought that that was the end of it! But, no! At Jupiter Press, where the journal was being printed, I was told that one more advertisement was needed for completing the last forme (‘forme’ is the technical term for printing eight pages). Just then, Sri Framji Dorabji, the Proprietor of Wellington Talkies and an Old Devotee, who had already given an advertisement for his Talkies, came to the press with the block for an advertisement from AVM Studio, just in time to complete that forme!

The Cover Page was designed by Sri Gopi, who had served in the 1940s at the Ashram during Sri Bhagavan's Jayanthi. He was working at Sunday Times under the leadership of M.S. Kamath. The very first design drawn by him, and approved by Mr. Osborne, featured Arunachala Hill and the temple. It was liked by all.

The printing of the journal at the Press was itself a great excitement for me. The press workers were surprised to see me standing next to them from seven in the morning till seven in the evening for nearly a fortnight. When the first batch of copies of the first issue — dated January 1964 — were printed, I rushed to the Ashram with a few copies. Arthur Osborne refused to even look at them before they were placed at the Samadhi of the Master! At a simple function, Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan released the first copy. When I wanted Arthur Osborne to preside, he said, "There is no need for anyone to preside, since Sri Bhagavan is ever here as the Presiding Presence!"

The wide circulation of The Mountain Path under the Editorship of Arthur Osborne, started bringing in a lot of devotees from all over the World to the Ashram. The journal was now accepted as one of the best spiritual journals in the World. Many young spiritual aspirants from the West flocked to the Ashram in the 1970s. I had the privilege of attending to them, taking care of their stay, guiding them around and up the Holy Hill, and in general, helping them experience the depth, beauty and Truth behind Sri Bhagavan’s Direct Teaching of Atma Vichara.

One couple from America — Charles Reeder and Anne Reeder — took to Sri Bhagavan’s Teaching very deeply. Hence, I was interested in them, as well. Mrs. Reeder, being a good singer, wanted me to teach her the song Ramana Sat-Guru from ‘Ramana Stuti Panchakam’. Only too happy to teach her how to sing it, I used to sit with her in the Hall in front of Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine, every day after lunch.

Sadly, people around started criticizing me for moving so closely with “a married, American woman”. This criticism was not as innocuous as it looks now. But then, in the 1970s, it was a big scandal. Hearing of this, my father, the Ashram President, called me and reprimanded roundly.

Being young and immature, both in matters spiritual and Worldly, I got very upset. By then, I had studied and was practising Sri Bhagavan’s Teaching single-mindedly. Resolving to follow it on my own as a wandering mendicant, I threw away my clothes and wearing only a towel around my waist, I started walking towards Vellore without even going and prostrating at Sri Bhagavan’s Sacred Shrine.

When I had walked about fifteen miles, somewhere near Polur, a deep depression took over me. Feeling betrayed by Arunachala, I looked up with a heavy Heart. Wonder of wonders! The silhouette of the Holy Hill suddenly appeared before me! I cried with tears in my eyes: “Oh, Lord! Is this Your Grace?” The soothing Grace of Arunachala then descended on me!

Almost immediately, a taxi came from behind and stopped right in front of me, obstructing me from going forward. Its doors opened and out stepped Hugo Maier, Rajagopala Iyer and Santhanam Iyengar! Rajagopala Iyer and Santhanam Iyengar were then the Ashram cashiers and loved me deeply! Holding my hand they said, “Is it fair that you desert us old people and go away from the Ashram?” Hugo Maier held the other hand and asked me, “Did you take permission from Sri Bhagavan before leaving?” I felt remorse and sorrow for not having gone to Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine and taking His consent for my act! Santhanam Iyengar embraced me and said, “Come with us! Report to Sri Bhagavan! If he permits, we will bring you back to this very spot and leave you!”

I was deeply moved! The three of them then pushed me into the taxi and took me straight to Sri Bhagavan’s shrine. While they stood behind me, I prostrated and appealed, “Bhagavan! I have been repeatedly insulted, ridiculed and slighted by people here for no fault of mine! How can I then do sadhana here? Oh, Bhagavan! Give me permission to go away!”

I turned to the three who were waiting behind me, embraced them and exclaimed, “No! Sri Bhagavan not only refused to give me permission, but also said, ‘You have work to do here; how can you and where can you run away? Did you not give an assurance that you would render service all your life, here, at my Abode in Arunachala, if you were saved from the drainage ditch in Varanasi? Stay here!’”

And so, here I still am, at the Holy Feet of Arunachala. Eighty-seven years old and still rendering service to Sat-Guru Sri Ramana!

In 1994, I felt the load of work was too heavy and resigned from all activities — editing the journal, bringing out books, attending on the visitors, etc. I felt it more like a positive step forward than a negation of responsibility. And so, after thirty years of service to the Ashram and being very closely associated with The Mountain Path, that prarabdha too was wiped out by Sri Bhagavan’s Anugraha. A small announcement in the journal I had helped start and nurture was the only sign of it:

“After many decades of dedicated service to the Ashram - especially in the Publications Section - V. Ganesan retires in 1994 from all the official positions that he has been holding hitherto at Sri Ramanasramam. He will, however, continue to be available between 8 and 11 in the morning for seekers to meet him and have spiritual discussions with him. He will also continue to give talks on Sri Maharshi and His Teachings whenever invited by devotees.”

I was now available to devotees at the upstairs room over the Ashram office for Sat-Sangh. I also dedicated myself to bringing Old Devotees who were living away from Arunachala to live inside the Ashram, attended on them, took care of their health and other needs till their last moments, and then, carried their bodies to the cremation ground after they had been “Absorbed in Arunachala”.

The years from 1960 to 1994, my staying in the Ashram, in dedicated service of this hallowed institution and surrender to my Master, Sat-Guru Ramana, I recognise now as the Anugraha needed for the exhaustion of my stored up Prarabdha Karma! I am very blessed and grateful to have been associated with the growth of the Institution through the collection of funds, the construction of its various buildings, the bringing out of The Mountain Path and many manuscripts as books. The latter of these have helped spread Sri Bhagavan’s Teaching and consequently brought to the Ashram many devotees from all parts of the World.

Still, what I consider the most singular act of Sri Bhagavan’s Grace, is making me instrumental — through Mother Krishna Bai’s ‘command’ — in bringing back nearly forty to fifty Old Devotees from different parts of India to stay in the Ashram. Not being able to bear the absence of their Master’s physical Presence after He dropped His Body, they had left the Ashram and were scattered across the country. That I could take care of each of them, as a devotee of Sri Bhagavan’s devotee, by giving them a room, an attendant, medical attention whenever needed, and finally, carry them on their final journey when they had dropped their bodies, is for me more than any other blessing I can envisage.

G. Ramaswamy Pillai, who had just then completed 101 years, was the last of the Old Devotees staying in the Ashram to pass away. After interring his body in a tomb in the Ashram premises, I took bath and returned to my upstairs room. It was January 1995. As soon as I unlocked my room to enter, I heard Sri Bhagavan whisper in my ear, not once but three times, in English, “Hand over the key. And, walk out!”.

When Sri Bhagavan released me from the Ashram, He also instructed me through the Siddhapurusha Yogi Ramsuratkumar to go away from the Ashram and live in my residence, ‘Ananda Ramana’. Yogi Ramsuratkumar categorically commanded me: “Ganesa! You have done enough service, spoken all over the World on Sri Bhagavan and His Teachings and served His devotees. Now, go to ‘Ananda Ramana’ and practise His Teaching of Atma Vichara by diving within all the time and abiding in Inner Silence. I bless you!”

I did as was commanded. The Ashram President took very good care of me — even though I was not serving the Institution — by providing me food end employing a servant to take care of me at ‘Ananda Ramana’. A truly magnanimous gesture on his part! Sri Bhagavan’s Anugraha continued/continues to rain on me even after I left the Ashram!

It was the year 2001! The fateful year when Sri Yogiji chose to drop the body. That night, Sri Yogiji’s health was in a very critical condition. Apart from the Doctors who occasionally visited and helped him, it was only Devaki Ma who was permitted to go into his room. Though deeply upset seeing my beloved Swamiji with so many tubes all over his body, I requested Devaki Ma to get permission from Swami for me to sit there and meditate. Even in that critical stage of being unable to even open his eyes, Yogiji gave specific instructions for me through Devaki Ma: “Let Ganesha go to ‘Ananda Ramana’ and meditate there. Let him not go anywhere else. He has to put Sri Bhagavan’s Direct Teaching of Atma Vichara into practice, all the time! This Beggar blesses him and assures him that this Beggar will always be with him! Ask him now to go to ‘Ananda Ramana’.” This happened at half past 12 at night. So, I left for ‘Ananda Ramana’ with a heavy Heart. At 3.30 a.m. I got the news of Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar having attained Maha Samadhi.

In 2020, my elder brother Sundaram, the Ashram President, passed away. My younger brother Mani and I were joyous to seat Dr. Anand, Sundaram’s eldest son, as the next President in accordance with the specific instructions of Sri Bhagavan’s “WILL”. Some devotees urged me to help the new President in the management. I went to Sri Bhagavan’s Sacred Samadhi Shrine and reported it to Sri Bhagavan. He blessed me with specific indications, to mean: “Do not interfere in Ashram affairs, any further!”

In 2021, I had two bad falls due to my sodium level going down drastically. The fracture I suffered, needed a major hip surgery to set it right. Though bedridden for a long time, I have started walking slowly now. Staunch Ramana bhaktas like Anu Ma, Nochur Ramana, Dr. Anand, Venkatesan, Sudha, Paramaguru, Sadashiv, Ananda Rao, Ravi Gupta, Prasanna, Sunil Valluri and Mouli, continue to take very good care of me.

The ‘mind’ dives within and there is Perennial Peace! Staying at home, within the premises of ‘Ananda Ramana,’ I now abide in Ramanananda, the Bliss of Sri Ramana! It is all Guru Anugraha!

Guru is Anugraha!

Anugraha is the Greatest Spiritual Power!

Every time Dr.T.N.Krishnaswami brought his Lyco Camera, he would complete taking more than 10 rolls of photos (each roll will take 8 photos). On his return to Madras, he himself would develop them, and bring them arranged in a Photo Album . “Sri Bhagavan would keenly look at each photo in the Album, very absorbedly,” said Dr.T.N.Krishnaswami.

MANGALAM, SADHA SARVAM MANGALAM - AUSPICIOUSNESS, ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS, AUSPICIOUSNESS!

The 80^th birthday celebrations of V. Ganesan took place in the Ashram with a simple religious ceremony on 14^th October 2015, in the presence of his elder brother, the then Ashram President V. Sundara Ramanan and his wife Sushila Ramanan. It took place in the Ashram Veda Patasala - under the able management of Smt. Anuradha.

Ganesan’s younger brother, V. Subramanian, his wife, Ramani, and other close relatives also actively participated.

Was this not Sri Bhagavan’s subtle way of appreciation of V. Ganesan's fifty six years of dedicated service to Sri Ramanasramam since 1960? From the age of twenty four? Perhaps. But one thing is certain: none of it could have happened without Sri Bhagavan’s Grace.

MANGALAM, SADHA SARVAM MANGALAM - AUSPICIOUSNESS, ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS, AUSPICIOUSNESS!

V.Ganesan’s 80^th Birthday : Celebrating 56 years of GURU SEVA

The Ashram’s Chief Priest, Senthilnatha Ghanapatigal - pouring the sanctified water on Ganesan as abishekam.

V. Subramanian, V. Sundara Ramanan and all close relatives participating in the ceremony with affectionate jubilation.

Smt. Anuradha, the then Manager of the Veda Patasala

MANGALAM, SADHA SARVAM MANGALAM - AUSPICIOUSNESS, ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS, AUSPICIOUSNESS!

Dr. Anand The Fourth Generation Ashram President

V. Ganesan and V. Subramanian honouring Dr. Anand on his succession as President of Sri Ramanasramam, with a garland.

The official document conferring the Presidentship on Dr. Anand being accepted by him, in Sri Bhagavan's Sacred Shrine with V. Ganesan joyously looking on.

Dr. Anand being escorted to Ashram Office before being seated on the Chair of the Ashram President.

MANGALAM, SADHA SARVAM MANGALAM - AUSPICIOUSNESS, ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS, AUSPICIOUSNESS!

Sri Bhagavan's legal “WILL” - referred to on page iii - specified that the management of ‘Sri Ramanasramam’ should be vested only with the family members, especially, with the eldest male member of every generation.

During Sri Bhagavan's lifetime, His younger brother, Niranjanananda Swami was the sole Sarvadhikari of the Ashram. After him, his son T. N. Venkataraman became the President of the Ashram. He was followed by his eldest son V. Sundara Ramanan, as the next President.

After his demise in 2020 his eldest son, Dr. Anand, took over as the President on 17^th June 2020. A momentous event, it took place in the presence of Sri Bhagavan’s devotees, including Sundara Ramanan’s two younger brothers, V. Ganesan and V. Subramanian, who joyously ushered Dr. Anand to this hallowed but demanding position.

Thus, the commandment of our Beloved Master, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is being diligently and religiously carried out, in accordance to His “WILL” and by His Grace, from generation to generation.