Long interview – extraordinary devotion/bakthi….Paati’s bakthi, with an unimaginable support from her husband is almost a never-seen combination. It is heart-filling to hear the definition of “anugraham” means. Periyava says His own words – listen to this. Once you listen, you will understand how blessed we are to think of Him, pray Him, and talk about Him……Also she narrates so many incidents – so naive, so true, so divine….
Thank you Shri Shivaraman for capturing such great devotees…
Categories: Devotee Experiences, Periyava TV
பிரம்மஸ்ரீ மகாலட்சுமி அம்மாளை இந்த அன்னை மூலம் கண்டிருக்கிரதோ பிரம்மம்
Part 4 — Vepatthur Paatti with Him
=========================
We lived in Pollachi that time. Madurai Meenakshi’s Kumbabhishekam was coming and the then President Dr Radhakrishnan was scheduled to attend it. Hence there was tight security. One of our acquaintances was Shri Venkatapathy who was a Ticket Collector. His wife’s mother had come from Calcutta and was returning home tomorrow. Before that, she expressed an interest in having His Darshan at Madurai. They mentioned it to me and wanted me to take her to Him. There was a 6’o clock train to Madurai and now the time was 3 pm.
I told them that my husband is working in the bank and that I need to ask his permission and that it looked impossible for me to escort them. Just as I was uttering these words, did my husband walked in! He said he needed to go to a Mill for inspection and that he came home to change his clothes. He readily agreed to my going to Madurai, but asked me to come home quickly and not to stay for long at Madurai.
So, we four left for Madurai, the TC, his wife, her mother and me. Reached the station at 4 am. The TC was allotted a room there. All of had Snanam and left for the Mutt in a horse cart. Before the cart left, I purchased a ball of Madurai Malli (Jasmine flowers) for Rs 5 or 6. It was huge, so I carried it in my hands only. Reached the Mutt and entered its door. One person working at the Mutt told me, ‘Amma, you should have been here yesterday to see the lovely Pattina Pravesham for the Ejamaan (Him)! It went on the whole of yesterday night and the Swamigal has just gone in for Vishranthi”.
I was a little disappointed and told him, ‘It is ok, I will wait here and let us see what happens..”
As I was saying these words, that man told me in a raised voice, ” Amma, Amma! Please do not move. Swamigal came out and is standing just behind you and if you turn you may touch Him!”
I took a step forward, turned back and saw Him. He said,
“Come, when did you arrive here?”
I said, “Now.”
“What is in your hands?”
“Madurai Malli, I purchased it at the Railway Station.”
“For what price?”
“Rs 7”.
He always used to ask with a child like curiosity. For example, if someone brought Him a Kalkandu (sugar crystals) packet, He would empty its contents and read the cover keenly. And keep it in His Infinite Memory! And will show that same cover to someone to get across a point!
He took the ball of flowers from me and started to wrap it around His Head, Shoulders, the entire Body from Head to Toe!
And then He asked me, “you know, you had come earlier to a Kumbabhishekam in Rameswaram. Did the concerned people send you a chain or any letter?”
“No. I had come there to attend Your Bhikshavandanam. And then later realized that there was a Kumbabhishekam too! So attended both.”
“So, by chance you had the opportunity to see the Kumbabhishekam also. From now on remember this, if anything happens by chance then consider it to be Divinity’s call, ok?”, said He.
Shankara.
And He went inside. I sat there for a while and went out to take rest at a Mami’s place. I came back to the Mutt in the evening for another Darshan. He was returning back after a Deeparadhanai and was flanked on one side by Shri Mannadiyaar who was a Minister, and by Shri PT Rajan on the other side. Periyava speaks so casually to everyone that we almost forget Who He is and start to chat with Him like friends. Those two gentlemen were walking side by side with Him and I felt it was not true respect for Him. I did not like it and was thinking about it, when He suddenly started to walk faster and was one step ahead of them! I was quite pleased!!
There were no Sumangalis there to take Arathi for Him. I felt sad that I was not near Him. I could not enter the temple as there was too much of crowd. Neither could I come out as police prevented me. Suddenly I spotted a lane and decided to take it. Walked some distance and saw a boy standing outside a house. He said, “Mami, I am Chellama’s brother’s son, please come in. I could not think clearly but decided to enter the house. And immediately the boy closed the door! I was scared a bit! He asked me not to worry and said he closed the door to prevent more people from entering the house. He said he wanted to help me. He climbed up a flight of stairs. I followed him. When I reached the top, I saw the Meenakshi’s Gopuram just a house away. And the Sarveshwaran was Standing at the top of the Gopuram!!!
I was flabbergasted. Appa, see how Your Anugraham is!! I was blessed to have the Mother of All Anugrahams! Can there be a better Anugraham? I was in ecstasy.
Shankara. Sarveshwara!
Immediately I lit a camphor and did an Arathi from the distance. The Kumbabhishekam got over, and I came out of the house. Periyavaa also came down from the Gopuram and stopped by the house of Melur Mama. I took another Arathi for Him, but now close to Him! He washed His feet, did Prokshnam and said, “Call Melur Mama and ask Him to do vandanam to Me. He was not lucky to see the Kumbabhishekam. I am Meenakshi Myself now, so, let him come and do his Vandanam!!”
I also tried to get on to the Pooja Stage, but Kannan His Kaingaryam protested correctly though, that ladies were not allowed. Swamigal told him, “why are you objecting her from coming in? See, she also could not enter the temple and had to see the Kumbabhishekam from a distance. And did you notice she was the only one to take an Arathi for Me? Since I just completed the Kumbabhishekam, I am Meenakshi now. As her to come in!”
*******
Part 3 — Vepatthur Paatti with Him
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If I had gone to see Lord Venkateshwara’s Abhishekam I would have only seen Him. But my Lord, Swamigal, took me alone to the Pushkarani, had a Snanam, gave me punyams by making me watch it, made me also take a Snanam in the same Holy waters! Can there be a greater blessing for me. It was priceless.
Once I was got up at 2.30 am unable to sleep further. Wanted to brush my teeth but I remember Him say that all work must be undertaken only *after* 3 in the morning and not before that. After it was 3, I started to brush my teeth. Opposite to where I was, there was a bungalow belonging to Nangavaram Pannai and it had a “Thitti Vaasal” which is a rectangular kind of place to sit in front of houses those days. I suddenly saw a Leg step out of the entrance. Then I saw the second Leg too. And then the Body. It was the Sarveshwaran!
Hurriedly I flushed my mouth and ran out. He was in Kaasta Mounam. He was walking on the street and I began to follow Him. He realized I was behind and looked back at me. I ran to the front and did a namaskaram to Him. He made a gesture at me. I said I am also coming. He made another gesture. I could immediately understand the language of the Lord. I replied, ” I will come with you wherever You go!”
He started to move. I followed. There was a small stream of water ahead. He climbed down into it to cross. I also followed suit. It is pitch dark at 3.15 in the morning. He was carrying a torchlight. Immediately He started to walk backwards, facing me and showed the torchlight on the path so that it will be convenient for me! Oh, my mother.
We crossed the small stream and walked further ahead. I could see Cauvery. It was new moon day, Amavasya. Hence He was carrying 2 or 3 clothes on His shoulder to wet them as any cloth that is made wet on Amavasya days is always Pure. He climbed down the steps into Mother Cauvery. Made a Chakram and had a Dip. I too had a dip nearby. We were the only Two! People from the Mutt came with lamps looking for Him. He left those two clothes there by the bank and left for the Mutt. I too followed Him. There is a tradition that women should remove their 9 yard saris (madisaar in Tamil) when they have snanam in the Cauvery. But I did not remove it. I had my dips with the Sari on me. It was all the ruling of Sarveshwaran that time! No words were exchanged between Him and me. Not necessary!
I have been blessed two or three times by Him to take snanam alone with Him. Shankara.
Once I was in Andhra Pradesh to have His darshan. After 2 or 3 days I told Him I want to go home and requested Him to give me Prasadam. He said, “Stay for one more day and leave tomorrow!” No more words from me. Paanaampettai Kannan, His Kaingaryam, also wanted to leave with me that day. He refused him too.
The next day, we got up very early and all of us started to walk with Him to the Godavari river. He walked up to the Koti Lingam temple by the banks and started to climb the steps into Godavari. We followed. As usual, He drew a Chakra on the waters and had a dip! We also had our dips immediately! And then He told me, “Do you know why I asked you not to leave yesterday? Today is Godavari Pushkarani Day. Kannan, you also wanted to go yesterday to do Hiranya Sraartham for your ancestors. But all of you who had snanams with Me now, all your deceased Ancestors’ souls have transcended today as a result your Snanams in Holy Godavari! So it is not necessary to do any Sraarthams at all. But you may do it for your own satisfaction!”
Shankara. Sarveshwara.
After the snanams we came back to the Mutt. He completed all the Poojas by 9 am. He called me aside and said, “You wanted to go home yesterday, but if you had done so, would you have got the Bhagyam of today’s snanam! That is why I did not allow you to go. Also, yesterday only Kannan would have escorted you. But today you have Natarajan (another Kaingaryam) also!!”
I was so innocent that I could not even tell Him, “when I have You, why do I need those two”!
*****
Shankara, Sarveshwara, Amma!
Part 2 — Vepatthur Paatti with Him
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There was a Shiva temple in Thenambakkam and Periyava wished that its Kumbabhishekam be held. I had gone to witness it with my grandson.
I held his hands and was walking down a lane. Swamigal was near us in that street. Suddenly a dog darted in front of us. Scared, my grandson ran and latched on to His Holy legs tightly!! There were anguish cries of Aha Aha for those present nearby as nobody should have touched Him. He did not say anything. He climbed down the steps of a nearby tank and we presumed it is for taking a Snanam. After the Kumbabhishekam was over He had Bhiksha too. His Kaingaryam Srikantan came out of the room and I worriedly asked him what had happened. He told me that Periva did not take Snanam and had told him, “that little boy is like Lord Krishna. so what is wrong if he touched me? It is ok. Snanam is not required”!!
It did not occur to me that I should ask Him for is paadukas. I simply did not pay much attention to the material world. It was all about Periyava. Once my husband read in the newspaper that Periva is going to Thirupathi. he asked me kondly,”He is going to Thitpathi, what are your plans? I know you would love to go. Shall I buy the tickets and see you off at the station?”
I reached Thirupati and heard the He had already started to climb the Hills. There was an escort person to take care of me. Jayendra Periva was doing the poojas that time. My escort told me let us watch the poojas completely before heading up the hills. And I agreed. As otherwise it would be a Slight to Jayendra Periva. I would never do that to Him. I would never disrespect Jayendra Periva. Only Swamigal Himself had chosen Jayendra Periva no? Does not Swamigal know everything? We keep saying everything happens only because His grace is it not? We call Him a Sarvangnan, no? Given this how can Jayendra Periva be a different vastu from Him! Are not they the Same! Should we not respect Swamigal’s decision? Hence, I do not worry at all about what Jayendra Periva does, how He does etc etc. This rock solid faith in Them is enough for me.!!
I went to Thirupathi.There was a Gujarathi man with me as escort. When I looked up the Hill I saw that Swamigal had almost reached near the Kali Temple at the top. My legs were not well and I was walking slowly. I told the escort to walk up quickly so that he have His darshan and that I will follow slowly. The next moment that man’s leg got sprained. So he had to come up slowly while I walked faster than him. I looked at the Kali Temple Gopuram and made a sankalpam, “If I am a sincere Sri Vidya Upasakar, then Oh Mother, I should see Periyava before He enters your Temple! That will be the power of your Shakthi”!
Would you believe it! Let us talk about Periyava and forget Ambal for a minute. We have not seen Her but we are always seeing Him! You know what He did, He sat on the first stone just before the Kali Gopuram and did not enter! Sarveshwara!!
He was chatting with Vaithya and Kannan and was waiting for me to join! I reached Him sweating profusely and panting for breath! Placed the heavy two dozen plantains before Him. He smilingly said, “Do not leave it here, these Kaingaryams will take them! Give it at the Thirupathi Matam, and only then will the bananas be available for Me!!”
This Sarveshwaran who Himself does not eat what we humans normally eat and who HImself doles away everything to others speaking like this! He was teasing me!
He asked me to enter the Kali Gopuram and wait inside. I went inside, did a Namaskaram to Ambal and waited inside. Swamigal and His kaingaryamas came inside after 2 minutes. Kannan and Vaithya told me, ‘Mami, because of you we received some pearls of wisdom from Him!”
I asked what was it. They said, Swamigal told them the stothram Mookaanaam Karathi Vatsalyam…and said, “Look at her! She is the true authority!
She came to see Me with so much Bhakthi and by running up the Hill!”
I stayed at Thirupathi for the night at the Matam. The next day was Friday and there was an Abhishekam scheduled for Mahavishnu. The tradition was that only one Kanchi Peetadhipathi could wave the peacock feathers for Lord Vishnu.
The temple also would give the 18 yard yellow/mustard coloured Ambal saree to Kanchi Matam once in three years. This practice was followed for years. Swamigal said He will be at the Matam and requested Jayendra Periva to go for the Abhishekam. Jayendra Periva kindly asked Him to do it, but Swamigal wanted Him to do it. All the people had passes for the Abhishekam. For some reason I refused the pass. They all left for the Abhishekam. Melur Mama, Swamigal and me were the only three at the Matam!
Next day early morning I heard the sound of the temple bell signalling the start of the Abhishekam. It was raining heavily. I felt sorry that I could not witness it and was thinking about it with a bit of anger against Swamigal!
As I was thinking thus, Swamigal walked out of the room. I suddenly got up and followed Him. He went up to the Lord’s Pushkarani tank and climbed down the steps. I too. We were the only two there at 4.30 in the morning! He drew a Chakram on the water. And Had His Dip there! I too had mine close by!!! He came back to the Matam drenched. I too followed Him.
Suddenly a thought came. You saw Him having His divine Snanam and He made you also take the holy snanam in His waters! Whereas I would have seen only Maha Vishnu’s Abhishekam!
******
Shankara, Sarveshwara!
Part 1 — Vepatthur Jayam Paati with Him
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Once Periyava spotted a hut outside which was a Peepul Tree. He asked His Kaingaryams Kannan and Srikantan to go inside the hut and check if anyone is inside. There were some dry wood, old stove, some broken pots, some rag clothes, an ektara like instrument etc. There was nobody inside. Periyava said, “this place looks good with the Peepul tree and all, let us stay in the hut for two days”!
I arrived at the hut for His darshan. The moment I entered the hut, Kannan and Srikantan and others were excited to see me and wildly gestured to me if I had brought coffee for them! They were standing behind Him. And hence I could not look at them and respond, for if I did that, Periyava would have turned back and seen what they were trying to communicate to me! Poker-faced, I looked only at Him and did a namaskaram.
He enquired about me affectionately. Before I came here, I had written to Pudu Periyava that I am coming and He always arranges a vehicle and a person to help me! Like Kunti tells Krishna, ‘Oh my Lord, who are we without your kindness’, so were both the Peryiavaas.
Periyava told His Kaingaryams, “Let her cook for all of you too. And I will have my Bhiksha too.” They cleaned the hut for me. I usually carry food material just enough for me, but now what will I do for 10 people, I wondered within myself. Then came one man carrying a sack of onions. He placed it before Him. He looked at the onions and smilingly told the man, “Appa, I do not eat onions. You do one thing, ask Kannan and he will tell you what is needed and you can bring that!” That was the true bhakthi of that man! Shankara.
While this was going on, the beggar to whom that hut belonged, returned and he started to cry seeing all his possessions outside. We consoled him and gave him some money and asked him to come tomorrow and told him that we will leave the place today evening. We told him how blessed he was, as Periyava chose to stay at his humble hut and not in any fancy place! Periyava was like that. He will be walking somewhere and then stop suddenly at a cucumber garden and say, “let us rest here and have Bhiksha! He Himself will pluck them and eat!”. What a blessed soul that garden owner must be. Only He know the answer, is it not!
I am 95 years old. I knew nothing but Periyava right when I was 5 years old. If the Rasam that I had prepared was deficient in salt, my husband will immediately remark that my mind is with Him and will so affectionately ask me if he can book the train tickets for me to go and see Him! I was lucky to have this caring person.
Once I was at Trichy to see Him. He had gone to attend the Advaitha Sabha. He returned back late in the night at around 11 pm. Annathurai Iyengar came out of the room after seeing Him. I requested him to tell Periyava that I have come and want to see Him. Periyava called me in and said,
“How are you? What is the urgent thing you wanted to see me about?”
“I want to know the meaning of Pati Vratha (a wife’s dharma to her husband)”, I said.
“What about it”? said He.
“I have been here with you for 10 days. You have still not give me Prasadam and are not allowing me to go home. My husband and child must be struggling at home for food. All that I had prepared before coming here must already be over. That is why I want to know if what I am doing is correct or not”, I told Him.
The Sarveshwaran replied,
“Your husband gives you permission to come and see Me. You come here. I keep you here. And after some days I give you the Prasadam and ask you to go home. He accepts you back. And does not question you why you came late after so many days. Everyone is happy. So, where is the question of Pati Vratha? What you are doing now is True Pati Vratha”!
**************
Amma, Shankara.
Amma, Shankara, Sarveshwara!
One of the best episode you have ever posted….that is a real blessed life. In “Mahaperiyava darisana anubavangal” in Vol 1-7 by Shri.Kothandarama sharma, She has been there in almost every volume. But today i am blessed to see and listen to her through your great effort. Thank you Mahesh and to your team.
Blessed soul she is…. waiting for the next episode from her…starting with Chidambaram incident…
என்ன சொல்ல? பாட்டியின் அன்பு தான் தெரிகிறது. இது மாதிரி அனுபவங்களைப் பற்றி படிப்பதை விட இப்படி VIDEO-வாக பார்ப்பதில் உள்ள இன்பமே தனி. தங்களின் பல்வேறு பணி சுமைகளுக்கிடையே, இப்படி தேடி தேடி RECORD பண்ணும், மற்றும் அதை பொறுமையாக தயார் பண்ணி UPLOAD செய்யும் மஹானுபாவர்களுக்கு அநேக கோடி நமஸ்காரங்கள்.
தன் சிறு குழந்தையிடம் தாயும், அந்த தாயிடம் அந்த சிறு குழந்தையும் கொண்டுள்ள அன்பு, பரிவு, எதிர்பார்ப்பு, ஏமாற்றம், கோபம் இவையெல்லாவற்றையும் மீறிய ஒரு சொல்ல ஒண்ணாத பிணைப்பு, கருணை இதில் தெரிகிறது.
ஒரு முறை மடத்திற்கு போயிருந்த போது “பெரியவா” விஸ்ராந்திக்கு போய் விட்டதாகவும் இனி அன்று தரிசனம் இல்லை என்றும் சொன்னார்கள். ஏமாற்றத்துடன் அந்த மரத்தடியில் அமர்ந்திருந்தேன். பல முறை வந்திருந்தாலும் மடத்தில் யாரையும் அறிமுகம் இல்லை. எப்பொழுது வந்தாலும் எட்ட இருந்து முடிந்த நேரம் தரிஸித்து விட்டு, நமஸ்காரம் பண்ணிவிட்டு போய் விடுவது தான் என் வழக்கம். ஆனால் அம்முறை அது கூட முடியாதோ என்று யோசித்து கொண்டிருந்தேன்.
அப்பொழுது ஒரு பாட்டி வந்தாள். “என்னை பெரியவாளைப் நமஸ்காரம் பண்ணுவதிலிருந்து யார் தடுப்பது?” என்று கேட்டவண்ணம் பக்கத்திருந்த சிறு கதவைத் திறந்து கொண்டு சென்றார்கள். சாதரணமாக எட்டியே நிற்கும் நான் என்னை அறியாமல் அவர் பின் செல்ல உள்ளே பெரியவா படுத்திருப்பதைப் பார்த்தேன். அந்த பாட்டி பெரியவாளை அப்படியே ப்ரதக்ஷிணம் வந்து வெளியே வந்து விட்டார்கள். நானும் அப்படியே செய்தேன். அந்த பாட்டியின் உரிமையான ஒரு தொரணையோடு கூடிய அந்த அன்பை நான் எப்பொழுதும் மறந்தது இல்லை. அவர்களால், அன்றும், எனக்கு கிடைத்த தரிசனத்தை எப்பொழுதும் நினைப்பதுண்டு.
இப்போ பொள்ளாச்சி (ஜெயா) பாட்டியைப் பார்க்கும் பொழுது அவர்கள் நினப்பு வருகிறது. ஒரு வேளை அவர்கள் தான் இவர்களோ?
நமஸ்காரங்கள்.
மஹா பெரியவாளுடன் கூடவே இருந்து தரிசனம் செய்துகொண்டே இருந்து அனுக்ரஹிக்கப்பட்ட இந்த மஹா பெரிய பொள்ளாச்சி பாட்டியின் அனுபவங்களை எல்லோருக்கும் வழங்கியதற்கு நன்றி. மஹா பெரியவாளுக்கும் இந்த மஹா பெரிய பாட்டிக்கும் எங்கள் நமஸ்காரங்கள்.
Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara!
We are all blessed to get the Anughrahams of MahaPeriyava through Great Devotee Jayam Patti.
Periyava’s own words on Anugraha and also “Edhecheyya nadakkaradu ellam, Innilerndu ‘Deivikamnu nenaichukko” these are great upadesams for us.
Thanks Shri Shivaramani and Shri Mahesh
Regards
Krishna
Harih: Om Namaskaram. Thank you very much sir,what a great experience ! it seems that it had happened yesterday only,,,Sri Paramacharyal had showered his (her) motherly Grace on Mami & Fly in abundance… A Blessed Soul indeed..