If you think about it, our generation had an extraordinary blessing to see a given mukthar in our lifetime – Periyava!! I don’t know when we would see another mahan like Him again!
Sri Kumaresan is one of the anukka thondar who got blessings from Sri Mahaperiyava that till his last day he’ll serve Sri Periyava. Initially, He was called by Periyava in 1971 for the daily supply of ‘aadai tayir’ prepared by his amma. His elder brother used to bring it but one day Periyava asked whether he has anybody else at home. That is how Sri Kumaresan Mama came into regular darshan of Periyava. One day, Periyava asked him to stay back & it continued for ever…
One day at a camp at Agari, Sri Kumaresan Mama & Sri Srikantan Mama were preparing for the day, Periyava has told “இன்னிக்கி ஒரு நிச்சயதார்த்தம் இந்த இடத்துல நடக்க போகுது… ” (“Today a betrothal is going to happen in this sannidhi”) No one understand what it mean. Some. Visitors have brought some ‘Matta thengaai’ & few other items. Periyava has said items required for ‘Nischayathaatham’ were given by Swami. Again no one understood what it mean… Suddenly, Sri Kumaresan Mama’s father & few others arrived and proposed a ‘nischayathartham’ for Sri Ekambaram Mama. Periyava has blessed all.
One day, during Periyava’s daily enquiry he has told that his brother has bought a plot. Periyava has called for his brother. Sri Kumaresam Mama don’t understand why but called him. “நீ ஏற்கனவே ஒரு வீடு வச்சிருக்கே இல்லையா?” (“Nee erkanavae oru veedu vachirukkae illaiya?”) Brother of Sri Kumaresan Mama has acknowledged what Periyava has told. “அதனால இப்ப வாங்கியிருக்குற பிளாட்-ஐ உன் தம்பி குமரேசனுக்கு எழுதி கொடுத்துடு…” (“Adhanaala ippa vaangiyirukkura plot-ai un thambi Kumaresan-kku ezhuthi koduthudu…”) Next instance the patram was submitted. It begins as, “Periyava utharavu padi en thambikku…”
On a Banu-sapthami, Periyava visited the plot. At a point, Periyava has 
When Periyava came out of his one hour japa. Sri Kumaresan Mama saw that Periyava was fully red in color. Being confused, he was trying to pull out the ‘dharba-asanam’. At that point he couldn’t do as the asanam was full of ‘red ants’! Then he realized that Periyava was doing his one hour japa while ‘red ants’ were biting Periyava… Periyava once explained this state as a proof of ‘Jeevan Mukthi’. However, at that instance Sri Ekambaram Mama was bit annoyed & expressed the displeasure to Prof. that we shouldn’t force Periyava as it’ll result in such ‘vibareetham’…
Once PuduPeriyava & another person were learning sastras together in those early times, the other person couldn’t understand ‘Jeevan Mukthar’. Finally, it came to Periyava. Periyava took him to a tree nearby, sat down there & saying that there are few lakshanams told about Jeevan mukthar, like they don’t have any conscious of their body. But the learner couldn’t understand how can somebody be not conscious about their body. After giving few examples, the learner sort of half-convinced. Then they were about to leave the place. At that time, the learner noticed that Periyava’s back was fully covered by white ants. He was shocked & tried to do something. Periyava, “andha olaiya eduthu lesa lesa thattu” Softly, softly to be tapped, meaning without hurting them. Later the learner has understood that here is a ‘Jeevan Mukthar’!
