This riveting memoir by Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, was first published in 2012 on the global Namadwaar website and the Tamil Madhuramurali magazine.
In Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam, when Bhakti Devi tells Sage Narada about herself, she says that she was born in Dravida desha (Tamil Nadu) and grew up in Karnataka (utpannA drAviDe sAham vriddhim karnATake gatA…). Hence the name of this series, where Sri Ramanujamji details a divine journey to interior Karnataka with Sri Swamiji (in late 2011), with a lovely unfolding of their experiences and studded with lovely insights shared by Sri Swamiji throughout the trip.
We are re-publishing this multi-part series in this GOD USA newsletter, so all devotees can once again relish and travel on this divinely sweet and insightful journey.
The Shiva linga in Ramachandrapura Asharam has the entire Akhanda Bharat drawn on it! Not only that, this Shiva linga also changes color corresponding to the phase of the moon. During the waxing phase (shuklapaksha) it will slowly brighten and on the purnima (full moon) day will be white in color. Similarly during the waning phase (krishnapaksha) it will slowly change color and on amavasya (new moon) day, will be black in color. Sri Swamiji was very happy to hear these details. He exclaimed, “See what a special and wonderful Shiva linga this is!”
That day, Sri Swamiji asked us, “Have you had darshan of Kollur Mookambika?” When we said we had not, he said, “Let’s go to Kollur!” But before leaving he gave a caveat, “If it is too crowded we shall return!” Was he hinting that the temple would be crowded? And that we might have to return without having darshan of Mookambika?
On the way to Kollur, an old fort came into view. We all got down to visit the fort. There was a rough, stony path that led from the road, up to the fort. As we entered the fort, Sri Swamiji said that this fort must have a connection with Hyder Ali. The fort was named after Shivappa Nayaka of the Keladi dynasty. According to these details, the fort must be from the 16th century. It had several ponds for royal families, fed by water collected from the nearby hills. This must have been huge in those days.
Sri Swamiji would always encourage us to be proficient in the history of our Bharata desha. Many a time, he would also chide us if we were not aware of our history properly. Not only this, he would also insist that it was necessary to stay abreast of the current happenings in our nation and beyond. Guru Maharaj would also do as he tells us to, wouldn’t he?
History says that Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada visited Kollur. Here, a rishi called Kola Maharishi and an asura both did penance propitiating Parameshwara. The asura troubled the rishi a lot, and unable to bear it, the rishi prayed to Adi Shakti. Since mishap would befall the world if the asura’s penance bore fruit, she made the asura ‘mooka’ (dumb). When Parameshwara appeared before them as a result of their penance, the dumb asura could not ask for a boon. Now the asura was even more enraged with the rishi and began to persecute him even more. The rishi once again prayed to Adi Shakti and this time she killed the asura. Hence, she came to be called Mookambika (She who destroyed the dumb asura).
As we were travelling, the topic shifted to lives of great mahatmas in the lineage of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada. On the way to Kollur and back, Sri Swamiji continued to speak about Kanchi Mahaswami, Shringeri Chandrashekara Bharathi Swamiji and Tiruvannamalai Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj. We were all drowned in the divine Ganga of the divine words of Guru Maharaj
Sri Swamiji would quote from Srimad Bhagavatam, “tatra bhAgavatAn dharmAn shikshet gurur Atma deivata:” (SB 11.3.22). It means, go and learn Bhagavata Dharma from a Satguru by revering him as God, serving him and loving him as your very self. Here Sri Swamiji would describe how the attitude of the disciple needs to be, in a very contemporary English term – ‘awe.’ Sri Swamiji would say, “Awe is a word that instills the sense of deep love and profound reverence.” This is the exact attitude a disciple should have towards his/her Guru – who teaches him on Bhagavata Dharma. The word ‘shikshet’ is wonderfully interpreted by our beloved master. He would say, “Shikshet does not just mean teaching Bhagavatam formally, like making a disciple sit before him and having him repeat the slokas one by one or memorizing them. Instead, it has a broader connotation of ‘educate.’ A guru while bathing would be reminded of Sri Krishna Bhagavan’s antics in the divine Yamuna river and would start talking about it to a disciple nearby. When he sits to eat, he would be reminded of Sri Bodhendra Swami offering his prasadam to a dumb boy who was cured of his dumbness (both bodily and mentally). When he walks, he would describe the parts in Srimad Bhagavatam which talk of Sri Krishna’s stroll in Vrindavan and the sweet words our beloved Lord uttered then… every minute of proximity with the Guru would be an educating experience. The Guru would talk only about Bhagavan, Bhagavatam and Bhagavatas, and hence every moment spent in his presence is Bhagavata Dharma learned in its wholeness.” We were all actually experiencing this teaching of our beloved master. That day, we received wonderful learnings about Bhagavata Dharma!
During the journey to Kollur, Sri Swamiji spoke so touchingly about how the upadesas of mahatmas easily present dharma, how they are relevant for any age, and how the words of mahatmas hold such profound meaning, that we who were listening were all immensely moved. At that time, while speaking about Kanchi Mahaswami Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati (Mahaperiyava), Sri Swamiji recalled many experiences with the mahatma and started recounting the lovely stories of devotees associated with him. He reminisced how Mahaperiyava had once told a devotee, “I shall protect you always from name and fame!” Then there was another devotee who invited Mahaperiyava to her house, but Mahaperiyava was unable to visit. She felt very dejected. Mahaperiyava understood this and out of compassion he tenderly told her, “Why invite me into the house made of bricks and mortar? I shall build a divine home in your heart and reside there forever.”
Would even yogis get such a fortune? Mahaperiyava’s compassion gave such a blessing so easily to this devotee. Sri Swamiji narrated this incident and said, “When Mahaperiyava, out of his compassion, showered her with these nectarine words, would that devotee ever forget these words in her life? Such is the sweetness of the words of such great mahatmas!”
We who were listening were just able to barely scratch the surface of the depth of these words of Sri Swamiji. Can we also ever forget these words of Sri Swamiji in our lives?
(The madhura yatra continues, by the benign grace of our master…)
by Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji
