Sri Ponds Narayanan Mama once went to ilayathangudi, a village in Chettinad, for having a darshan of Periyava. Periyava was sitting on the bank of a ‘kulam’. Sri Mama did the namaskaram & had the darshan.

After a while, Periyava has asked him a mundane question…

“ஏன்டா உன் பையிலே (உன் செலவெல்லாம் போக) எவ்வளவு வச்சி இருக்கே?”

Instantly Mama replied “நூத்தம்பது ரூபா, பெரியவா…”

Then an un imaginable request came…”அதை மடத்துல கட்டிடரியா? நா இன்னைக்கு கார்த்தாலேந்து பிக்ஷயே பணலேடா…”

Sri Mama was stunned with the heart piercing fact & quickly got it done. Periyava have fasted for few days continuously.

Does one day matter for him? Definitely not.

Apparently, somebody must be hungry in that camp, a visitor or a parishadar. So Periyava would ask for a pongal or uppuma, saying he needs it but only will take a spoon & ask it be given to the visitor/s who would arrive few minutes later. It often happens in Periyava’s camp. But more importantly Sri Mama was stunned because of the fact that Periyava used to have biksha only when someone gives biksha, like that of a parivrajika (wandering monk).

Sri Balu Mama (now swamigal) / another parishadar has said… “ரெண்டு நாளைக்கு தொடர்ந்து பிக்ஷை போட்டாச்சுனா உடனே வாரி விட்டுடுவா…”

Vidwan or a visitor seeking help will get the little savings that were kept in the camp that helped them to promptly prepare the biksha for 2-3 days continuously.

What a staunch adherence to dharma (sanyasa)!

Categories: Devotee Experiences