Brief Life Sketch of Bhagavan Ramana - 06
Hare Krishna Dear Friends,
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Sri Ramana stayed in Arunachaleshwara temple for few months, but He did not like people often crowding around to see Him; preferring to be alone, He moved to Gurumurtham temple, which was fairly far away from the town, and for about one and a half years He remained there in Samadhi. Locally he was known as Brahmana-Svami.
In the meanwhile, the note which He left in Madurai had been found, whereupon His elder brother Nagaswami, his mother (Azhahammal), uncle and other relatives and friends had begun to search for Him in many places, but had so far been disappointed. At last they came to know of His whereabouts through one Annamalai Tambiran, who had been serving Sri Ramana in Gurumurtham temple. Since Subbaiyar the uncle with whom Sri Ramana had been living in Madurai, had recently passed away, Nellaiyappaiayar, Subbaiyar’s younger brother, started at once for Thiruvannamalai. He came to Gurumurtham, but no matter how much he entreated Him to come back to Madurai, Sri Ramana remained silent. Having failed in his attempt, Nellaiyappaiyar returned home empty-handed.
Seeing his fruitless effort, Azhahammal herself came to Thiruvannamalai accompanied by Nagaswami as soon as she could. At that time (December 1898) Sri Ramana was staying on Pavazhakundru, an eastern spur of Arunachalam. When His mother saw the pitiable condition of His body, she burst into tears and prayed:
“My dear child, come back to Madurai. How can I possibly bear to live comfortably in a home when you are lying here on stones and thorns? Don’t be stubborn my boy, please don’t show such dispassion! Your mother’s heart is torn apart. Come home, my child!” She wept bitterly and implored Him in ever so many ways. Nagaswami also repeatedly pleaded and repented: “Alas! I didn’t really mean it when I spoke in that way; I never imagined that it would bring about such a calamity!” Though they stayed and appealed for ten days, not even the slightest sign either of consent or of refusal appeared on the face of Sri Ramana. He remained as silent as ever. Some of the onlookers, being unable to bear with this pitiful sight, gave Sri Ramana a piece of paper and a pencil, and begged Him, “Svami, your mother is sobbing and her heart is bleeding; graciously give your reply, at least in writing; you need not break your silence!”.
He wrote:-
“According to the Prarabdha (i.e. destiny) of each one, He, its Ordainer, being in every place will make it play its role. That which is not to happen will never happen, however hard one tries. That which is to happen will not stop, in spite of any amount of obstruction. This is certain! Hence, to remain silent is the best.”
What a steadfastness born of Self-knowledge! What steadfastness free not only of affection, but also of aversion! What could the devotees and His mother do? She returned home afflicted.
Do not many among us wonder why Sri Ramana behaved in such a fashion towards His mother, since is it not a well-known fact that not only all human beings, but also birds and beasts enjoyed His gracious benevolence?
So long as Azhahammal was filled with motherly affection and showed the motherly ignorance of attachment: “You are my child. I am your mother, your protector! Come home with me’, was it not the task of Sri Ramana to remove the ignorant outlook and thus save her? Therefore, by the sword of such silence He was cutting at the knot of attachment in her. His idea was not to abandon her, but to take her finally as His own; it was only the first step to make her renounce everything and to come to the feet of Bhagavan, the embodiment of Jnana. Moreover, on another occasion, in 1914, when His mother came to see Him and happened to suffer from a high fever, Sri Ramana composed four verses, whereupon the fever subsided. She then returned to Madurai.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
We will continue with the account the next day. Have a nice weekend.
Regards,
Neelakantan
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sri Ramana stayed in Arunachaleshwara temple for few months, but He did not like people often crowding around to see Him; preferring to be alone, He moved to Gurumurtham temple, which was fairly far away from the town, and for about one and a half years He remained there in Samadhi. Locally he was known as Brahmana-Svami.
In the meanwhile, the note which He left in Madurai had been found, whereupon His elder brother Nagaswami, his mother (Azhahammal), uncle and other relatives and friends had begun to search for Him in many places, but had so far been disappointed. At last they came to know of His whereabouts through one Annamalai Tambiran, who had been serving Sri Ramana in Gurumurtham temple. Since Subbaiyar the uncle with whom Sri Ramana had been living in Madurai, had recently passed away, Nellaiyappaiayar, Subbaiyar’s younger brother, started at once for Thiruvannamalai. He came to Gurumurtham, but no matter how much he entreated Him to come back to Madurai, Sri Ramana remained silent. Having failed in his attempt, Nellaiyappaiyar returned home empty-handed.
Seeing his fruitless effort, Azhahammal herself came to Thiruvannamalai accompanied by Nagaswami as soon as she could. At that time (December 1898) Sri Ramana was staying on Pavazhakundru, an eastern spur of Arunachalam. When His mother saw the pitiable condition of His body, she burst into tears and prayed:
“My dear child, come back to Madurai. How can I possibly bear to live comfortably in a home when you are lying here on stones and thorns? Don’t be stubborn my boy, please don’t show such dispassion! Your mother’s heart is torn apart. Come home, my child!” She wept bitterly and implored Him in ever so many ways. Nagaswami also repeatedly pleaded and repented: “Alas! I didn’t really mean it when I spoke in that way; I never imagined that it would bring about such a calamity!” Though they stayed and appealed for ten days, not even the slightest sign either of consent or of refusal appeared on the face of Sri Ramana. He remained as silent as ever. Some of the onlookers, being unable to bear with this pitiful sight, gave Sri Ramana a piece of paper and a pencil, and begged Him, “Svami, your mother is sobbing and her heart is bleeding; graciously give your reply, at least in writing; you need not break your silence!”.
He wrote:-
“According to the Prarabdha (i.e. destiny) of each one, He, its Ordainer, being in every place will make it play its role. That which is not to happen will never happen, however hard one tries. That which is to happen will not stop, in spite of any amount of obstruction. This is certain! Hence, to remain silent is the best.”
What a steadfastness born of Self-knowledge! What steadfastness free not only of affection, but also of aversion! What could the devotees and His mother do? She returned home afflicted.
Do not many among us wonder why Sri Ramana behaved in such a fashion towards His mother, since is it not a well-known fact that not only all human beings, but also birds and beasts enjoyed His gracious benevolence?
So long as Azhahammal was filled with motherly affection and showed the motherly ignorance of attachment: “You are my child. I am your mother, your protector! Come home with me’, was it not the task of Sri Ramana to remove the ignorant outlook and thus save her? Therefore, by the sword of such silence He was cutting at the knot of attachment in her. His idea was not to abandon her, but to take her finally as His own; it was only the first step to make her renounce everything and to come to the feet of Bhagavan, the embodiment of Jnana. Moreover, on another occasion, in 1914, when His mother came to see Him and happened to suffer from a high fever, Sri Ramana composed four verses, whereupon the fever subsided. She then returned to Madurai.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
We will continue with the account the next day. Have a nice weekend.
Regards,
Neelakantan
posted by vedanta at 8:02 PM
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