Cherished Memoirs 43 – Worship the Totality!

This series chronicles interesting experiences recounted by the devotees of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. These articles are  translations from the series, “Madhuramaana Mahaneeyar” that is published every month in Madhuramurali Tamil monthly magazine.  The original article was written by Dr. Bhagyanathanji, Personal Secretary of Sri Swamiji.

Worship the Totality!

Once, Bengaluru was going through an unusually dry season. Monsoon had failed. Bengalurians were deeply worried. Prayers were being held all around for rain. We were traveling with Sri Swamiji to Bengaluru. We reached around evening. Sri Swamiji said, “Everyone is doing something to bring down the rains. The meteorological department is taking some steps in this direction. Cloud seeding is being planned. All are trying various means. The efforts are in different directions. Do you know what I am going to do? I am going to do what I know best. Let us all also do our best.”

Saying this Sri Swamiji quickly walked up the stairs and entered the shrine of the Lord Sri Sundara Anjaneya Swami. The utsava murti of the Lord was brought and placed on a  beautifully decorated swing. Sri Swamiji just sat there. It was very hot and humid. Everyone was sweating profusely. All were feeling thirsty. It was so hot. It felt as if we were in the middle of a desert.

Sri Swamiji showered Namasankirtan rain for two to three hours. It was an ecstatic, out of this world bhajan! As this was happening the whole scenario changed magically. Gradually, the heat lessened and cool breeze started to set in. Everyone was so enthralled by the out of the world bhajan that none paid attention to this. As the bhajan came to a close there was a loud thunder and lightning. And, it began to drizzle. Soon, there was a heavy downpour. A downpour that was beyond all imagination! As Sri Swamiji remarked that there was at first Nama mazhai (rain) and then the real mazhai.

After the bhajan Sri Swamiji said, “You see, it is very simple. You need not break each and every prayer, each and every requirement into the detail. Everybody wants rain. Everyone in the world wants rain. And this world is inside God. So, instead of looking at it part by part I look at it in totality. Within God everything is there. So, please Him. When the Totality is pleased all else will follow automatically. You don’t have to chase each and every issue, one by one. And, how do you please Totalilty? Chant Nama. It is very simple.”

Just that: it’s enough. Yogi Ramsuratkumar would say, “Even if you do not know what prayer to make (that actually is the best in a real situation because I do not know what is right for me), do not worry; just chant the Nama. Nama will do the prayer for you. Chant the Nama. Nama will do what is right for you; Nama will remove what is not good for you. Nama will do the prayer for you.”

That is what our Sri Swamiji also said. Chant Nama to please the Totality. And leave it. The Nama will do what is to be done.” ‘vaLamundu kuraivillai Gurunatha un padam thuNai’.

Sri Swamiji would say, “When you want a tree to grow and bear fruits what would you do? Would you water the leaves? Is that the way to go about it? You water the roots. When you water the roots it is carried to all parts of the tree and everything comes about. You do not have to individually address each and everything. It is the same for Namasankirtanam that forms the basis for the prayer. It is like watering the roots. Just chant Nama and God is happy. And when God is happy everything would fall in its place on its own. There is solid logic behind it. That is why I am sharing it with you. Somebody asks, “How is chanting Mahamantra enough?” I would say, “It is enough. It is like watering the roots; it will automatically remove all the obstacles and things will fall in place: it takes time but it will happen.”

Mahamantra never fails. That is why it brings prosperity all around. If someone comes to Sri Swamiji’s presence that is what happens. What we give Sri Swamiji is nothing – very meagre but what we receive from him is immense. He fills us with grace.

From ‘Madhura Smaranam – My Guru as I see Him’ Australia November 2015: documented by Nirmala Giri, Chennai India