This series chronicles interesting experiences recounted by the devotees of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.
The Jewel of Premika Varadan
One day, Kamashastri, the person who does pooja for Premika Varadan at the Sri Swamiji’s Madhurapuri Ashram, informed Sri Swamiji over the phone about a missing ornament. It was one that Premika Varadan wears every day. At that point, Sri Swamiji did not pay attention to it, thinking that if this issue was taken to heart, the rest of the work will get affected.
Sri Swamiji went to the Ashram after ten days. He was in tears on seeing Premika Varadan. “One of your jewels is missing! But I’m being so indifferent! Is this correct? How much havoc is created when people lose their jewels? Is this right on my part to be like this when Bhagavan’s jewel is missing? Am I being negligent because it is your ornament? I’m establishing Namadwaars at Senganur, Naangur, Govindapuram, Delhi, Brindavanam, Bengaluru, Vedharanyam, Srirangam, Hyderabad and many other cities. While this is the situation now, what will happen in the future? Or am I being indifferent because it is someone else who bought it with their money?” Sri Swamiji was expressing his anguish through many such thoughts. Looking at Premika Varadan, He cried all night without sleep.
The next morning Sri Swamiji, called on Sridhama, who does service in the ashram, and said, “Just check once in the place where Premika Varadan’s nirmaalya flowers are collected. Sridhama, at once, went to search amidst the nirmaalya flowers. What a wonder! The jewel was right there! It is a place where many people walk by. Someone could have noticed it and easily taken it away. But it was just lying there. Sri Swamiji’s joy knew no bounds when Sridhama handed the jewel over to him. Sri Swamiji was moved on seeing how Premika Varadan, unable to see him in distress, performed such a divine lila. He went to Premika Varadan and said, “All these belong to you. Your properties. It is your responsibility to take care of them.” Saying so, Sri Swamiji prostrated to Premika Varadan.
Sri Ramanujam ji, Chennai India
Originally published in the June 2017 issue of MadhuraMurali magazine
