Sakthi Vikatan 18 Oct, 2011
Guru’s Teachings
Kunju (the boy) had a dream of Siva initiating him in five syllable Mantra. Inset: Balaraman, the author of this article in Tamil
Sri Kuñju’s
book ‘My Memoirs/Memories’ is a must-read for people who want to know
Maharishi. This publication introduces us to Bhagavan in a succinct
manner and clearly demonstrates our thirst and need for a Guru.
In January 1897, Kuñju
Swāmigaḷ was born in a small village in Kerala’s Palghat area. He was
not like other children engaged in play activities, displaying adamancy,
and crying; he was still staying in one place. Perceiving this behavior,
his parents took him to his maternal uncle for his astrological
prediction.
“This child has divine treasure with rare qualities. When it comes to
food, it is good to feed him Sattvic foods,” said the maternal uncle.
Since they were good parents, he was raised in a Sattvic environment.
When the boy went in the morning with his father for ritual bathing in
the temple pond, he saw the orthodox Brahmins standing in the water and
sitting on the steps chanting Mantra Japam. Srīkuñju
Swāmigaḷ
also wanted to do the same. But, he did not know whom to seek for
knowledge. Paramesvara appeared that night in his dream with his matted
russet hair, ash stripes… and initiated him with five-syllable Mantra.
At dawn, he remembered the dream
and not the Mantra. He was unhappy that the Mantra just slipped out of
his hand and memory. Sivaperuman appeared in his dream that night and again
instructed him on the five syllable Mantra. He recalled the Mantra at
dawn. Since them Srīkuñju Swāmigaḷ continued chanting the Sivapañchākṣara
Mantra.
He wanted to have an ash-bag. He wanted to apply the ash on his body,
whenever he had the desire to chant the Mantra. Sivaperuman came in his
dream, directed him to a tree to pick up coins from the foot of the tree
and buy a bag. The base of the tree had three quarter-Annas. He was
quoted a price of three-Annas a bag, not a penny more and not a penny
less. His desired was fulfilled by Sivaperuman.
When his father asked Kuñju
about his bag, he narrated his story to the joy of his father.
A few days later, he wanted to wear a Rudrākṣa
bead garland. When he went with his friend towards the bathing pond, his
friend separated from him stating a reason.
Kunju continued his path towards the pond and found a lotus
flower with a Rudrākṣa bead garland with gold string. The parents said,
“What a wonder.” They celebrated Kuñju
and regarding him as a boon, raised with loving tender care.
Near his place, there was a talk on Tamil Tiruvilaiyāḍaḷ
poem with Malayalam translation. The father and son went to listen
to it. Kuñju
repeated what he heard to others. The village was happy to listen to his
presentation in a story form. “What a wisdom!” the villagers wondered.
Loin-cloth Sadhus visited the village; the father insisted that Kunju go
with him for Darśan. Kunju refused to go, because a higher Guru,
Sākṣātkāra Paramaśiva
himself initiated him with five syllable Mantra (Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya).
The town celebrated Elappuḷi
Swāmigaḷ and Kuñju
refused to see him. His father on the pretext of going somewhere took
Kunju and presented him to the Sadhu.
“Can you become lofty because God came in your dream? Because you
deliver eloquent speeches at 16 years of age, can you assume to be
repository of omniscience? Don’t become arrogant because you got what
you asked for. These are the beginner’s Siddhis. You cannot progress in
the path of God, unless you know Vedāntams and have formal education in
religious texts. Therefore, give up this hubris and go with me,” said
Elappuḷi Swamy. Kuñju
agreed.
Kuñju
surrendered to Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ. Kunju asked the Guru questions: All
the readings and the Mantra Japams did not take me to the same lofty
station that the ancient Munis attained. Are there no Munis nowadays who
discovered God within? Are they old stories? Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ answered,
“Why not! There is a Mahan named SriRamana Maharishi in Tiruvannamalai
in Tamil Nadu.” Suddenly, a shock wave of electric current passed
through Kuñju’s
body. Thought of Ramanamaharishi was bouncing in his head.
Vedic learning and practice
offered no progress to Kunju; that upset him. Meanwhile, Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ went on a pilgrimage to important temples in Tamil Nadu. A few rich people went with him.
Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ
announced to the public, when, where, which month, which day and what
time he would attain Samadhi (death). The day was imminent. The Samadhi
structure was rising.
Kunju Swamy understood none of these.
Sorrow and depression afflicted him. He was unhappy to note that
life is all drama. He could neither hold his thoughts nor confide them
to others. He pleaded with his Guru he wanted Darśan of Ramana. Elappuḷi
Swāmigaḷ yelled to him saying, “What, are you playing with me? I am
about to attain Samadhi (= death by appointment). Where are you going
this time?” Kunju waited
for the fateful day of death of his Guru.
In the said Mahānirvāṇa
month, said day, said time…Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ sat in the Samadhi Pit. He
ordered the bystanders to move the big rock over the pit, once his head
stopped moving. The townspeople chanted the God’s name. Swami’s
titubation of the head did not stop. The time was on a merciless march.
Unable to stay in the pit any longer, the death-inviting Swamy emerged
out of the pit, ran through the crowd and disappeared. The expectant
jubilant people turned sour and yelled, saying “All Swamys are
charlatans.”
The Swamy hiding in a grove with his attendant rich people ran out of
town.
Kuñju
Swamy’s desire to meet with Bhagavan was soaring high and he left home
telling no one. Since he
heard his spiritual friend already joined with Ramanar, he was happy he
had him there to help him.
After overcoming many hurdles, he reached Tiruvannamalai. He went up the
mountain. He was excited to learn that he was about to meet a spiritual
Persona. He thought through what all he would do and say reaching
Bhagavan. Seeing Bhagavan he stood there horripilated. He paid homage by
prostrating before him. His spiritual cohort SriRama Krishnar invited
Kunju Swamy and introduced to Bhagavan, who nodded his head in assent.
On the day of arrival of Kunju Swamy, Bhagavan’s servitor-devotee
Annamalai died of plague. Bhagavan’s mother cried at his death, while
Bhagavan consoled her saying,” What is it, if Annamalai died? We gained
another son (in Kunju). Kunju Swamy earned a place of spiritual
proximity to Bhagavan: The import of this news was not apprehended then.
The inmates of
Āśramam
left for the funeral ceremony. Bhagavan prepared gruel, placed it on a
plate and fanned it for cooling. He opened a basket. Out emerged four
puppies.
‘Get hold of the foursome,’ yelled Bhagavan. That commandment, Kunju
interpreted as learning of four Vedas. ‘Leave one after another,’ said
Bhagavan. Kunju made a vow to give up desire and bonds.
(Leave one after another = Give
up desire and bonds)
One puppy urinated on the floor. Bhagavan ordered saying, “Wipe.”
He took literally and figuratively. He wiped the urine off the
floor. He scrubbed his mind of the impurities.
His luck to serve Bhagavan came to him fast. He also could be alone with
him. He felt guilty eating free begged food with no payment with money.
He thought, “I stayed here for a few months. I can see inside me.
Why should I not do the same thing staying home. Why should I be a
burden to Bhagavan?” So saying to his friend, he came back home.
The peace in Bhagavan’ Sannidhi and deep reflection were impossible at
home. A private room did
not advance his objectives. The thought to go back to Bhagavan blossomed
in his mind. This time he took leave of his family with proper etiquette
and returned to Tiruvannamalai.
He knew this was his place. Bhagavan was not angry for his departure and
not effusive either with accolades for his return. When he was alone
with Bhagavan one day, he divulged his life story and was unhappy he did
not attain success in his search for God (God-realization).
Bhagavan answered, “If you know
yourself, there is no loss. That is what Kaivalyam states.”
“How am I to know myself, Bhagavan.”
“You make an enquiry, ‘Who Am I?’”
“How do I make the enquiry, Bhagavan?”
“Look at the source of your thought.”
Turn the mind inside and look at the Heart (Self).”
([Spiritual]Heart and Self are synonyms)
Saying thus, Bhagavan fell silent. Likewise, Kunju Swāmygaḷ became
silent. Bhagavan’s eye of grace cast its look on Kunju Swāmigaḷ. That
moment, a change happened inside and there appeared peace and ecstasy in
Kunju Swāmigaḷ.
As said here, Kunju Swāmigaḷ’s journey of spiritual life came to
fruition in the right place. To face a right Guru, one must overcome
many hurdles. Elappuḷi Swāmigaḷ, who became the butt of jokes,
introduced Kunju Swāmigaḷ to Bhagavan.
Srīkuñju Swāmigaḷ continued to live with Bhagavan and attained spiritual
enlightenment.
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