Thanks to Sri Sureh P for this excellent work….
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I am a spiritually uneducated man with no knowledge of Vedas, Sanskrit, Vedantas etc. Four generations of my ancestors in my family before me were always saying Periyava’s names and that is how I also developed Bhakthi towards Him. I had met Him in 1948 for the first time in a small village called Arvimangalam in Thanjavur district. I was 6 or 7 years old. We boys were playing outside. A Mena stopped near us. He called us to Him and asked pointing to me,
“Who is this boy having kudumi (tuft of hair in the back of the head).”
I told Him.
“How old are you?”
“Seven”.
“Whose son are you”?
I told Him.
“Do you know Sanskrit? “
“No”.
“Are you wearing a Poonal?”
Told Him, “No”. But I told Him the Abhivadaye!
He said, “I like you. Do two things for Me, learn Sanskrit and do not remove your Kudumi!”.
Sadly, I did not do both! I was very disappointed with myself and apologized to Him many many years later.
There was a Municipal Chairman in Vellore in 1969. He was against Brahmins. His Mother forcefully brought him to Periyava as he had no children. He did namaskarams to Him.
He told him, “Your Thatha had built a Pillayar Temple, have you seen it?”
He said, “No”.
He showed it to him outside!
“Please do Poojas to the Pillayar”, said He.
“Your Thatha did lot of good deeds and Dharma, a very good man, How is your Father?”
And He poured forth lots of other information about his family, upon hearing which he was shocked at His Omniscience. He became very respectful and folded his hands. Did a Namaskaram to Him.
He gave him a fruit as a prasadam and blessed him saying, “Take this fruit, the dharmas and good deeds of your ancestors will protect you and your family!”
He performed a great miracle to my family member and I am witness to it! Imagine how a man like Jayakanthan who was a sworn atheist initially, became His slave saying Krishna, Krishna..
My sister was a brilliant girl. She did her BSc Honors in Chemistry from Annamalai University and was the first ranker in 1962/63. She went on Ford Foundation scholarship to Iowa in the US before marriage. She was a student of Dr Rajamanickkam Devadas who himself a devotee of Periyava. She did her MS in the US, came back to Avinashalingam College to teach. Did her PhD also there and became a Syndicate Member in the college. Got married at a late age of 29/30. Her Husband had two small factories in Madras. She gave up her job after marriage and joined her husband in Madras. They were very happy for 6 months.
And then tragedy struck. Her husband lost both his eyes due to Glaucoma despite medical treatment. Hence he could not take care of his factories. They had two small children. No job. She was broken hearted and was indulging in lot of self pity.
She went to meet Periyava.
With compassion He consoled her for more than 30 minutes. He said, “ I am also mostly blind. But I am managing and carrying on somehow. You should try to take heart from Me and be brave.”
After she took leave from Him she slowly changed her mindset. She drew courage and inspiration from Him. She went back to Avinashilingam College, joined as a lecturer and remoulded her life! She no longer had any self pity. She was transformed by His Grace. Their two children were model kids and very devoted to Him; they studied brilliantly and one did a PhD in Bio Engineerng while the other is a leading financial consultant in Atlanta in the US. Her husband was also no longer in self pity too; he checked himself into Vijay Merchant’s Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. Despite his physical disablity, both of them were always joking, laughing and were leading a good life!! I doubt if they woukd have been more happy had he got back his sght.
This miracle is possible only because of the divine inspiration from Him, the God, the Master, the Sarveshwaran! Our Master tells you what is right and what is wrong, we just need to have rock solid faiith in Him!
*****
Shankara. Sarveshwara!
Shri Cooper’ Sundaram’s experience with Mahaswamigal — Part 2
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I call Him my Master. He is Sarveshwaran. Let me tell another miracle which I had witnessed.
There was a gentleman who had lost his parents when he was very young. His Mother passed away when he was just 3 or 4 days old. This happened almost 70 to 80 years back. When his father married for the second time, he did not take his son with him. This gentleman was living with his old grandmother in Mayavaram during is childhood days.
He joined the Railways and became a Special Class apprentice. He was posted at Kanchapura near Calcutta. He got married to a nice girl and they lived in Calcutta then with their three children. He became Class 1 officer, Gazetted officer and then retired as a Deputy Director of Inspection.
Due to lack of normal upbringing he became an Atheist. But he will not hurt anyone. He did not wear the sacred thread (poonal) and did not do Sraartham (ceremonies for deceased parents). He used to tell his wife, “you do whatever you want, I will come to the temple with you but do not ask me to pray.”
As time passed he got all the three daughters married off to good grooms. He and his wife then moved to Madras.
The wife said one day, “I will got to Kanchipuram and see Periyava and come”.
“May I also come Chella, I feel like it”, said he.
“Ok, come.”
Both went to Kanchi. She was afraid that he would embarrass her by speaking to Him without knowing the protocol. He started to address Swamigal as “Sir”! And she gave up and felt helpless and remained quiet.
Swamigal asked him, “What are you doing?”
He said, “I am an Engineer and work with lathe machines and tools and responsible for their inspection.”
“What is a machine tool? What is a lathe?”, asked Swamigal with a child like curiosity, like the way a Mother would ask a child! They were discussing his occupation for 1 hour. There was no talk about Spirituality or God.
“Ok, what are your plans now”, asked the Swamigal.
“You please tell me what I should do now”, replied He.
“I have to take Snanam at a tank which is 1 km from here and then I will be back for poojas. You may wait here”.
He came back and did the Chandramouliswara poojas. The couple were watching the Poojas.
His wife asked him, “are you not hungry?”
He said yes and left to partake the prasadam at the Mutt. And came back to the Pooja place.
When the Poojas were completed he lined up to receive the Theertham. When his turn came, Swamigal asked, “what did you do?”
“I was hungry and I had prasadam.”
“Then I cannot give you the Theertham”, said He.
His wife got the Theertham. And then she went to have the Prasadam lunch.
They were getting ready to leave for Madras when he says to his wife, “look Chella, shall we stay for one more day and leave tomorrow?!”
She said yes. He asked the Swamigal too and He replied “Yes.”
Next day after bath, he borrowed a Veshti at the Mutt, got hold of a Sacred Thread too, applied Vibhuti on his forehead and came to see the Poojas! After the Poojas were completed both of them had Prasadam and left for home in Madras. Again no Spiritual words were exchanged between him and Him.
After three days in Madras, he remarks to his wife, “look Chella, shall I do Sandhya Vandanam?!”
She said, “Yes”.
“Shall I read the mantras from the book? Or shall I seek a Vadhyaar’s help? Will he laugh at me Chella?”
And then he wore the Poonal and started to do Sandhya Vandanam!
And then after some days he tells his wife, “Endi Chella, I have never done Srardham for my parents, I feel like doing it. Shall I get started?”
“Ok, do it.”
“I know a little bit of Sanskrit that I had learnt at school, shall I say some prayers”?!
“Ok, do it”, was her standard reply.
A man who was always cynical about Holy People and God, ceased to be a cynic! Just by a mere Darshana Deekshai!
That man was my Athimber, and his wife is my sister Chellakka.
I wish to believe that my faith in my Master is a rock-like one!. My wife and children have rock like faith in Him! My children’s children in the US pray to Him before writing their exams!
This is my Master! Who changes people!. He is the one Who controls everything, every movement! He is my Sarveshwaran!
*******
Shankara. Sarveshwara. My Mother.
Shri ‘Cooper’ Sundaram and his Maami’s interactions with Him — Part 3
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He is my Sarveshwaran!
Success does not have any meaning without the Master. He is the one who controls Everyone!
Once we went to Mahagaon to have His darshan. We had taken our daughter with us. Swamigal wanted to know if anyone could read Marathi. There was no one at that time who knew to read Marathi. He asked my daughter if she knew. Se said Yes. And He asked her to read one material in Marathi. She had such Bhaghyam!
My wife is as much a spiritually uneducated fool as I am. But she made up for it in Bhakthi towards Him. She almost thinks that she is the Mother of Periyava. So much she cared for Him.
Once after staying at Satara for three days He wanted to climb up the Sajjan Ghat mountains nearby to visit a temple at the top. He was almost 87 years old that time. And there were heavy rains in the mountains. We were extremely worried for Him. He bathed in the rain waters streaming from the
rocks in the mountain. My wife was afraid that He may get cold. There were no medicines. She gave His kaingaryams, Shri Neelakanta Mama, thulasi, pudina (mint leaves), milagu (pepper), pattai and sukku for him to make Kashayam and give it to Him. Neelakantan told her why she was taking all the trouble as He will not drink Kashayam. Then The Sarveshwaran smiled and told Shri Neelakantan, “go and make the Kashayam and bring it for me!” We were so pleased!
The Kashayam container was wrapped in silk cloth and given to Him. Later a local doctor also examined Him and He became alright!
Sundaram Maami speaks now
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He asked, “can you get Me some Thoothuvalai leaves? It has the colour of a Brinjal plant flower and is found in thorny plants.”
Immediately I asked the workers at Cooper Factory to go to the nearby Irandeshwar mountain and get the leaves. It is believed that
this mountain was a part of the Sanjeevini mountains and Lord Hanuman had dropped it in Satara when He was flying on the way to Lanka. Hence it had medicinal value plants.
The workers plucked all the leaves from all the thorny plants and cactuses and brought them in a bag! I gave this to Swamigal and told Him, “we do not know how a Thoothuvalai leaf will look like, that is why we brought all the leaves! Please choose what You want from this bag!”
He laughed heartily for some time and remarked,”Look, she has brought all the thorny plants for Me”! Later they made arrangements to get this leaf from Madras.
One day the Satara Matam people told me that He wanted a Ripened Bitter Gourd. As they did not know Marathi they did not know where to shop for it
in Satara and approached me. I was nonplussed as I did not know from where to get it from as no one consumed it! I still went to the market and searched
for it. To my utter shock I saw an old woman selling it! I am having goosebumps as I am telling you! Heart to Heart, I knew that if He has said it is available,
then it MUST be available! Shankara!
Satara is know for big gooseberries (nellikkai). I bought some from the market and felt like taking it to the Satara Mutt for Him. As I approached the steps His Kaingaryams, Shri Balu and Shri Neelakantan told me, “Today is Brindavana Dwadashi. He will eat today and He wants Nellikkai!! Another Coincidence
of Coincidences, I had it with me and handed over to him. They said they will make Nellikkai Chutney and give it to Him in Bhiksha!
Ganesh Chaturthi day was approaching. Swamigal wanted lot of different leaves for the Ganesh pooja and His Kaingaryams gave me the list. Most of the leaves
in the list did not make any sense to me, like Naiuruvi etc.! In my garden I plucked Jaathi Malli (jasmine) flowers, Guava leaves etc and put them in a bag.
Also I requested the factory workers to pluck all the leaves. I took the bag and gave it to Him. He gaving a roaring laughter and asked me to empty the contents
of the bag and told us to separate the leaves!
On Ganesh Chaturthi day one worker boy plucked some Thaazhambu flowers and gave it to me. He knows that I regularly use them to do Poojas at home.
Since Thaazam Poo was not ok for Lord Shiva’s poojas, I assumed that it is not OK for His Son Ganesh too and put it in the back of my car. We went to the Satara Mutt and saw Him waving Peacock’s feathers for Pillaiyaar!
Balu Mama immediately approached me and said,” Maami, can I please have some Thazampoo, He wants it for the poojas!”
Sarveshwara, is it really another Coincidence! Or is it His Play! Like this He blessed me many times providing me an opportunity to give Him what He wanted!
Once we came to know that He was staying at Mahagaon in Karnataka for two or three weeks. And we decided to go there for His darshan. We usually went wherever He Went!
Before They left for Mahagaon from Satara, Balu Mama told me that He had asked “how are Dudh Pedas (Milk Sweets) made in Satara region”?
I immediately wanted to make some for my Sarveshwaran!
My husband tried to talk me out of it saying that He does not eat anything at all, and even on those rare occasions He takes Bhiksha from only those people who had taken Deekshai! But I was adamant that I will make some Pedas!
I did not know how to make them, so I called the local sweet maker home. Before starting I took Snanam, wore nine yard saree. Cleaned the stoves. Put a kolam. Bought 5 litres of Pasu Maatu Milk. Asked the Peda man to sit six feet away. He gave me the instructions how to make the Pedas. Had the sugar powder and cardamom crushed and mixed. After heating the milk for quite a while it became solid. Mixed it with sugar/cardamom and made small balls of Peda. Put the pedas in a box and wrapped the box in a silk cloth for purity. And we were ready to go to Mahagaon!
We did our Namaskarams to Him and handed over the fruits which we had taken. We did not show Him the Pedas yet.
The Lord Shankara asks me, “what did you bring for Me!”
“Peda”, I replied.
“Where, show it to Me”, said He.
“It is here”, I said.
Then His Kaingaryams took the Peda inside. My Husband again told me, “please do not be disappointed if He does not eat it.”
After His poojas and Bhiksha He told Balu Mama, “Sundaram Maami had brought some Peda for me, please bring it!”
He took one Peda and put it inside His mouth behind the left cheek, took another Peda and put it behind His right cheek and enjoyed Himself!
We were stunned to witness the Parameshwaran in Bliss and cried in Joy!
My daughter was confused at this and told my husband, “you have said that He has no hunger and does not eat. Then why did He do it now”?
My husband told her, “only to show His Love for the Bhakthi your Mother has for Him”.
Categories: Devotee Experiences
The experiences of my parents as related above ( Mr and Mrs Sundaram) bring tears to my eyes. My own experiences date back as a 10 year old ( the eariest as i recollect) went to Maha Periavaa to meet him with my parents and with folded hands i prayed to get good marks in my exams. I do recollect that i did not study very well for the annual exams that time around and expected for a miracle to do well. To my shock and amazement, Periavaa was talking to someone else that we need to have the discipline to work and pray everyday and regularly. Saying “siva siva” in the last minute cannot get the desired results. I truely felt that that message was for me. The message hit the “bullseye” and left a deep impression for me to study and pray regularly. The only open secret to success that i have learnt in my life is to have unreserved and total faith and bhakti in his holiness. I have passed this “secret” of devotion to my children to pray to “umachi thatha” every day to seek his blessings.
Even today, when faced with any dilemmas at work or home, the sure way for me is to close my eyes before him and seek his guidance. I must admit, that every step i have taken fell in the right place with his grace.
More experiences will follow this blog in the coming period.
It is absolutely True that He knows Devotee’s real Bakthi much in advance.
As God He never wants His devotees to go with any bad feelings..like this Seethapazham mami.
I went to Him in 1992 when my elder daughter got admission to Princeton for UG studies with full scholarship..
All those around Him advised me ‘not to mention about foreign trip ..especially for your daughter at this age(she was just 15+)’
As a True devotee I never can tel a lie l or hide anything to Him..
I told Him the truth..He was 99 Years..He was agile.
.Asked Balu mama “Explain what he says”
He explained..Periyavaa asked for some fruits and flowers and gave it to me&my daughter..
He also made signs that like my father she wd also shine very well..
It is a fact that He is God!
Shri Cooper Sundaram and his Mami’s interactions with Him — Final part 5
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An incident happened even today (2012). We both came to Madras to see his brother’s wife who was admitted in Apollp for a liver problem. We had some free time and I told him why not we make a trip to Kanchi Mutt. It was Pradosham day and we reached the Mutt at around noon. Got some fruits, Thulasi, Kalkandu etc from the outside shop and came in. We were quite disappointed to see His Adhistaanam closed. Someone said it will be opened for the public only in the evening. So we decided to go to Orirukkai, but that was also closed. We headed back to the Mutt. Within half an hour, I saw two Kaingaryams open the Adhistaanam door, knowingly or unkowingly! Gave them two Uthiri flowers, one to be placed on His Head and the other at His Feet. Don’t know what made them to open the doors. He pleases us. Our Bhaghyam!
Birla was a great devotee of His. He had sent a man to meet with Him and to inform that he is planning to build a temple as per Agamas and Shastras. But to do that he wanted Him to give His consent to send Shri Muthiah Sthapathi. If He sent Shri Muthiah Stapathi to build the temple, then Birla promised to donate Rs 1 lakh for the Veda Paatashaalas.
Periva was amused and said, “What, has Birla started to do business with Me?”
That man waited for three days, but Periyavaa went into Kaashta Mounam and did not answer his query at all. The man had to leave. Swamigal asked the Sthapathi, “Birla, needs your help. Why are you not going?”
The Sthapathi said, “How can I go without Your permission?!”
A Kalyana Utsavam had to be conducted at Uttara Chidambaram temple at Satara for the Lord and Ambal. I was asked to do it, at a short notice! But we needed Silk Saree for Ambal and a Veshti for Him. Where will I go for these in a small town like Satara?! Suddenly it struck me to check for them in the Coop Store in Cooper Factory. It was closed that day! Since my husband was a GM I could take advantage of it and had the store open. There were three sarees, and I finally selected one for Her. It cost me only Rs 250!. But there were no Veshtis in the shop. We then went to the Satara Mutt. There to our utter surprise, Shri Kaasi Kannan His Kaingaryam, said someone had given them three new Veshtis and asked me to take one! I gave him the money. Smt Padma Subramanyam, the famous danseuse, was also there for the Kalayana Utsavam. She told me, “How can there be a kalyanam without Paruppu Thengai”? My mother helped me to make Paruppu Thengai. I had also arranged for the garlands.
Smt Padma Subramanyam was there at Satara to meet with Him and was doing Nrthya dance research and sought His advice. I was there witness to these discussions daily. I was very privileged! I was there almost daily. Shankara.
Balu Mama used to tell me, “Maami, you know He has asked us not to drink coffee. But it is almost impossible for us. Can you please help”? I used to make Nescafe coffee and give it to His Kaingaryams secretly! Also Pickles. Once He asked them, “Enda..how is the coffee made by Sundaram Maami, is it good?!”
An incident happened when He was statying at Pandharpur. A 80 year old Veda pandit from a Veda Paatashaalai in Thiruvaanaika had sent Him a Mattai Coconut (unpeeled coconut) through his friend. Swamigal held the Coconut in His Hand and was in ecstasy, laughing aloud for a few minutes and then kept it aside. That time some ladies had brought their Varalakshmi Nonbu Saradus (yellow thread) and coconuts to be blessed by Him. I did not have any coconuts with me, sadly. I too wanted my Saradu to be blessed by Him, but what to do!
I was stunned when the Sarveshwaran took That Mattai Thengai, placed the Saradu on it, blessed it and gave it to me! Shankara. A person came running to me and said, “What Bhagyam you have done to receive that Mattai Thengai from Him, which He had held in His hands with so much Happiness”!
That cocunut occupies a prominent place in our Pooja room, fit to be worshipped. Many years later I was discussing with my husband of the need to go to Bangalore/Mysore to get a new Sandalwood piece for Pooja purposes as the existing one was thinning out rapidly. I heard the door bell ring. At the very same time, I saw That coconut fall and bounce twice! Initially I assumed that it must have been due to the running of a rat, but there were no rats. I went to answer the door. There was a bearded Muslim standing who said he had come to give us a sandalwood piece obtained from Belgaum! Shankara. Sarveshwara!
Once Harish Mahindra (Keshav Mahindra’s brother), his wife, daughter, his Sambandhi, his mother came to Cooper factory and stayed in the Director’s bungalaow. They requested me to take them to Him. He asked them to come at 11 am to which Harish Mahindra sent word that he needs to provide food to this old Sambbandhi and hence wil come at 12.30 afternoon, Periyava said, ‘“yes, I am aware. It is ok, let him come at 12.30 pm”.
I introduced them to Him. Harish told Him, “I have been made chief of a religious Dharmic organization.”
He was happy hearing this.
Harish added, “It has assets worth 10 crores and I am proud to be heading such an organization”!
He smiled and asked Baalu Maama to tell him to not to take up that position!
Taken aback, Harish continued, “I am the most Humblest servant of this Organization!”
He smiled again and said, “See, he says he is the humblest of them all. His ego has not left him. Ask him not to take that postion”!
His wife told Him, “Swamiji, I am doing meditation for some time now, but I am unable to focus and concentrate. Please help me”.
He told Balu Mama, “ ask her how does she Meditate?”
She said, “ I say God’s name by turning the rosary beads” and gave Him the rosary beads Mala. He blessed it and gave it back to her.
“Can you do it for 30 minutes?”, asked He.
“No, my Lord”.
“Can you atleast do it for 5 minutes?”
“No, my Lord.”
The Parameshwaran said, “Keep on trying. Siddhi occurs to only such people and not to those who think they have already mastered it. This is True Sadhana! Do it with perseverance and you will be blessed with Siddhi!”
What a contrast between the wife and the husband! Shankara!
He used to do Pournami Poojas and so I had taken some Vrikshi flowers to Him. Balu Mama cynically said that He had stopped doing poojas for more than 40 years and why am I giving the flowers unnecessarily?! I placed the flowers before Him, anyway.
He took the flowers, looked at the Moon and started to elegantly throw the flowers at the Moon by invoking Tripurasundari in the Moon. Lo, what a sight that was! I am getting gosebumps when I am tellling you this! One gentleman who was present then told me, “when He does such Maanaseeka Pooja, Periva Himself becomes Tripurasundari and it will be Tripurasundari doing Poojas to Herself! And those of us who witness this spectacle become Tripurasundari Herself!
****
Shankara. Sarveshwara. Amma!
‘Cooper’ Sundaram Mami’s interactions with Him — Part 4
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The Sankrit Scholar Late Pakshi Theertha Ramachandra Iyer’s widow lived in Satara Road with her son. Her son also worked in Cooper Factory. This Paati did not have any money and was completely dependent on her son and daughter-in- law. She wanted to have a darshan of Swamigal but did not have any money to purchase fruits for Him. Dejected, she came to our home and requested if she could pluck some Seetha Pazhams for Him from our garden. We readily agreed and I even told her that I will take her to Him at the Satara Mutt.
When we reached the Mutt, His Kaingaryams told the Paati, “why have you brought Seetha Pazhams? They are considered to be ‘Nisheetham’ and He will not consume them”.
The Paati was dejected on hearing this and went back and stood near the wall.
Swamigal looked at everyone there. He was observing silence that day. He said in sign language looking at the Paati,
“why is that lady standing in the back? As her to come to the front!”
She came to the front slowly but hid the Seetha Pazhams behind her.
The Sarveshwaran looked at her and said, “You have brought something for me. What do you have in your back?!”
The Paati was embarassed and said, “Nothing!”
He again said, “No, you have brought something for me, what is it!”
Reluctantly She kept the Seetha Pazhams before Him.
Lord Parameshwara, the compassionate Mother, do you know what He did. He took the fruit in His hands and closed His eyes in meditation!
The Paati was esctatic! Sarveshwara.
We normally go to Pune to buy special fruits as these are not available in Satara. Once there in Pune I chanced on some Vilaam Pazhams (Wood Apple). I have never seen them in Satara. I bought some of them and took it with me for Him who was at Mahagaon. When I went to the Mutt, His Kaingaryams critically told me, “What, do you think He is going to eat it mixed with Jaggery?!”
That day the then Chief Minister Shri Gundu Rao was supposed to have had His darshan, but could not as there was an accident in his route.
Swamigal said to one of the Kaingaryam Mamas,
“Today is Ekadashi and I am quite hungry. Please bring the Vilaam Pazham brought my Sundaram Mami and mix it with jaggery and give it to me!”
I simply melted. Sarveshwara.
At times I had the fortune of providing Him with wheat flour, which I crushed in little by little quantities, for His bhiksha.
Once there were lot of Vendakkai (Ladies finger vegetable) in the Cooper company’s garden. But they were small (pinju) and had not grown fully. Hesitantly I requested the workers to collect them in the hope that He will accept them. I went to see Him in Mahagaon. After the Darshan was over I was ready to leave in the afternoon. Unexpectedly, one gentleman Sirinivasan came up to me and said,
“Mami, He has asked you not to go now. He has asked us to cook for you and you may leave only after partaking the Prasadam!”
I was extremely hungry that time!
Swamigal Himself provided the menu for my Prasadam. Vendakkai Pacchadi, coconut chutney, mixed saatham like lemon rice, Payasam etc. They were served to me on a Banana Leaf and it was like a Sumangali Praarthanai Virunthu just for me! Shankara. Sarveshwara.
Once my daughter came directly from her school in Satara Road to meet me at the Mutt. Swamigal said, “Ask her daughter if she came alone or with Sundaram Mami to the Mutt.” My daughter replied, “I came alone.”
Swamigal says, “See, I told you she came alone!”.
How did He know that ? Shankara! He is God only!
Workers belonging to different religions came for His darshan in Satara. There was one Ramzan Sheikh who was a pattern maker in the factory. He had no children. His mother had asked him to meet Swamigal.
He blessed him saying, “You will have a boy!”. And it happened the same way!
For another Marathi couple He advised them a coconut be tied on the lady’s lap in His presence. A son was duly born to them after 15 long years! Shankara. One of the factorty workers was a Christian who had come to have His darshan. I was shocked to see him in Veshti and Vibhuti on his forehead. He said, “How can I face the Swamigal without these?!”
There was a Shiva temple by the side of Vasna river in Satara Road. Swamigal said He will stay in the Sanctum Santorum of the temple or in a Goshaala. All the workers offered Poorna Kumbham to Him. As they were walking up to the temple, a Naga Snake slithered its way by their side, all the way upto thye temple and disappeared. there!
My son got admission in Sainik Defence School for his 6th grade. He was selected on merit in an entrance examination. He like the school. My husband was on an offical duty to Italy and Germany. His sister, me and my son went to see Him. Told Him that my son is in Sainik school.
He was resting in a Goshala. He asked, “Where does He study?”
“Sainik School”, I told Him.
He then closed His eyes for a while and said, “Remove him from the Sainik School!”
We asked Him a second time. Now Balu Mama replied saying that, “He has asked that your son be removed from the Sainik School, please do that!”
We were very worried as our son liked that school and he had just recently joined the school.
Once again after a few days we went to Him. He again told me that my son’s line was different and to remove my son from that school! We took him out of the school and put him in another school.
Swamigal is a Dheergha Darshi who could foresee what our son would be thirty years into the future and that a Defence career was not for him! Our son is now a Director of Global Business in Phillips!
Once I saw just one Yellow Rose blooming in our garden. I plucked it to offer it to Him. My husband told me that there was no way He will place it on His head. But still I wanted to take that yellow rose. I put that flower along with other flowers in a basket and took them to Him. The Sarveshwaran put His Hand inside the flower basket and went through all the flowers for some time. And surprises of surprises, He pulled out that Yellow Rose and kept in the middle of His Spectacles just above His Nose! Shankara.
Another time I took some 10 kinds of flowers for Him. He asked me how many types of flowers were there. I said 10. He said, “There should be one more, that is 11!” I was taken aback and when I check them I found a Vaazhai Poo (Banana plant flower), the 11th Poo! Lord Parameshwara was teasing Me!
There were some Mami’s from Bombay and Pune who had come to Satara with Manjal Kothu (Turmeric plant) which was to be used to tie around the Pongal Pot. They got it blessed by Him. It was a bit expensive for me and hence I did not do that. However my husband suggested why not take all the Turmeric plants growing in Satara. I requested the the workers to collect them and had them placed before Him. He made me happy by blessing them for me!
There was not one shred of unhappiness for us during His 4 year stay in Satara. Every day was blissful for us in His presence.
*****
Shankara. Sarveshwara
In Mahagaon,when He was staying,1979 I think..there was a flury of visitors ..a small stream of water was flowing in the river nearby.Periyavaa was staying in a small hut.The officials all came and Nani Palkhiwala was one of them.Palkhiwala prostrated before Him and Periyavaa asked Balu maam to find out”Why he has come?”
Palkhiwala”Morarji Desai wants to me to be the Ambassador to USA.Normally I dont accept such Govt jobs.So I wanted Periyavaa’s Permission&advice..”
Mahapeiyava blessed HIm..Palkhiwala then took the flight the next day..
see my 1985 souvenir where in Palkhiwala wd have described the small hut where Periyava was staying was a Cowshed..Unless He is God HImslf in such conditions none wd like to stay..
I am getting involved with all these experiences, a good day for me today.