Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Sankara – Anantha Jaya Jaya Sankara to Smt. Gayathri for the share. Ram Ram
One Sunday Sri Maha Periyava went to the ‘Gangai Kondan Mandapam’ Anjaneyar (Hanuman) temple opposite Sri Matam and sat down there. A large number of devotees had a leisurely darshan.
Even when it was four in the afternoon, Periyava didn’t seem to move back to his abode. Since Periyava would not take even a cup of water after sunset on a Sunday, the disciples got worried. It was ascetic dharma to fast on Sunday nights. A disciple gathered courage, went to Periyava and supplicated, “Anushthanam, Bhiksha–(daily religious observances, taking alms) need to be done. Today is Sunday. If it is sunset, then there would be no bhiksha thenceforth. Periyava should come back to the Matham.”
Periyava said: “It’s said that Seshadri Swamigal, after taking bath in the sarvateertham (temple pond}, and doing his shamshana japam (litany in the cremation ground), would visit this mandapam (pavilion) and stay for many days. I too came here so that I can stay for at least a day. And you people are driving me away!”
Sri Maha Periyava had great respect for Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharshi.
Then He consented to their supplication and started towards His abode. The fruits, sugar lumps and coconuts that His devotees had submitted to Him in darshan had formed a large pile there.
“Let all these things remain here. Let the Hanuman poojaka (priest of Hanuman temple) and the umbrella people take these things.”
The crafts people who design the temple umbrella and flag used to stay in the Gangai Kondan pavilion. They can be seen there even today.
