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 this series, 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 series in this GOD USA newsletter with permission, so all devotees can once again relish and travel on this divinely insightful journey.
Part 10 – A Mahan is Needed to Rejuvenate Worship in Ancient Temples
When the deities were taken back inside the temple at Ambu teertham, the power went off, drowning us in total darkness. As the floor was a little wet and it was dark all around, and also because of his enthusiasm in being in the presence of Sri Swamiji, the young priest (the son) slipped and fell down. The moment he heard him fall, Sri Swamiji stopped right where he was. Full of compassion, he sent one of us to go see how he was. Only after we ascertained that he was all right did we take leave with “Radhe Radhe” and proceed to the car.
We asked Sri Swamiji, “It is strange that the priest fell right after worship of the ancient deity was resumed after a long time!” For this Sri Swamiji answered briefly, “Yes, this is not a random accident.” We remembered an answer Sri Swamiji had given a while back to a devotee’s question. He had said then, “When we rejuvenate worship in an ancient temple, the forces responsible for cessation of the worship will impact the person trying to resume the worship!” We actually saw it happen there!
Guru Maharaj had himself performed the abhishekam there and removed the obstacles for the worship of Vigneshwara, the Lord who removes obstacles! Even though the priest was only slightly hurt, Sri Swamiji first arranged for a small treatment and then only left the premises. He had also brought divine grace to the priest through the mantropadesa and ensured that there would not be any troubles in the future. What can we say about the compassion of mahans?
As we started from the place, Sri Swamiji suddenly asked, “What tithi (day according to Indian lunar calendar) is it today?” Only then did we realize, to our utter surprise and joy, that it was Chaturthi tithi – the day that is very auspicious for Sri Vinayaka! We understood then how Sri Swamiji had spoken continuously about Lord Vinayaka all day long. Sri Swamiji also said sweetly with a laugh, “We have been blessed with the remembrance of Ganapati on a good day indeed!” Although we cannot understand a mahan’s heart, we were blessed to experience briefly that day how divine sankalpa works in their heart.
As that day was December 28, we were looking forward and immersed in thoughts of the January 1, 2012 Mass Prayer that had been arranged at Coimbatore. We reminisced how, for the very first time in 2006, Sri Swamiji had suddenly asked the family members of Sri Kathiresan ji at Tuticorin, “We need to take the Mahamantra to people for their own welfare. How about we conduct a mass prayer?” It was November 17, and Sri Swamiji wished to conduct a mass prayer on November 19 itself. The mass prayer was first conducted at a Municipal hall near a Sivan temple. The Tuticorin devotees worked constantly like spinning tops. Sri Swamiji bestowed prasadam with his own hands to all the people who attended the mass prayer.
The mass prayer that began thus, was then conducted on a large scale at Chennai’s Kamarajar Hall on January 1, 2007 with 5000 people in attendance. Since then, how many Mahamantra mass prayers has Sri Swamiji since conducted in so many different places! Ambur, Ambasamudram, Kovilpatti, Tirukoshtiyur, Thanjavur, Gudiyattham, Sivakasi, Periyakulam, Sholingur, Theni, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai… even while traveling from one town to another, he would conduct Mahamantra prayers in intervening villages! In all these places, devotees too continue to conduct these prayers in various places, by Sri Swamiji’s grace. This has slowly grown to global proportions! January 1, 2012 was the turn of Coimbatore, we thought.
When we think about how much goodness this Mahamantra has brought to the people of the world through Sri Swamiji’s grace, how can we forget the words from Sri Swamiji’s Mahamantra Kirtan – “ulaga makkaL uyya Or vazhi kaNDArE, avalanilai pOkkum kIrtthanam pADIrE!”
With this in mind, the next day, December 29, we intended to return to Tamil Nadu. We went to offer our prostrations to Sri Swamiji that morning. Sri Swamiji immediately asked, “Have you been to Udupi?” My heart skipped a beat. I was fortunate to have heard through Sri Swamiji’s own lips about how Udupi Krishna had welcomed Sri Swamiji before, and bestowed him with His darshan. Those memories rushed into my mind. “Will we have the fortune of going to Udupi?” – as this desire sprouted in my heart, I replied to Sri Swamiji, “I have not been to Udupi.” He hesitated for a moment. It felt like a yuga!
Then he said, “Come! Krishna is calling. Let us go to Bangalore via Udupi!” When we heard that, our faces immediately reflected the joy that had risen in our hearts!
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 this series, 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.
