Many Jaya Jaya Sankara to Smt. Gayathri for the share. Rama Rama

Experiences with Maha Periyava: My experience with His Holiness

Author: Artist Silpi

Once my wife Padmavati teased me saying that more than anything else I, as a drawing artist, should draw a picture of Kanchi Maha Periyava so that she could spend the rest of her lifetime by constantly looking at the picture without stirring out of Maha Periyava.

I wrote at once to the Sri Matam Kanchi and quick came the order to go over there. After I offered my homage to His Holiness, He said, “So, you are going to draw my figure. You are the disciple of Mali. Do you think that I will be netted by you in the picture?”

After some days, however, He permitted me to draw. But it was a hot midday. He asked me to sit at a distance from Him, right in the open space in the hot sun. I was writhing in pain. I could not sit steadily as the ground was getting extremely warm. Maha Periyaval saw my predicament. There was an expression of grace in His eyes. The next moment the situation took a sudden change. The place became instantly cool and even pleasant.

Still His divine sport continued. However much I tried I could not get His figure and personality exactly in the picture.

Finally, after a good deal of repeated and concentrated effort, I finished the portrait somehow and placed it at the holy feet of Maha Periyava. My wife and I were sobbing all the time. We pleaded for His acceptance of the portrait granting that it resembled him. If it were not blessed by him, we said in bravado that He Himself could keep it with Him and that we did not want it.

At once He took the picture, held it close to His chest, closed His eyes in meditation and turned His glance towards the temple of Varadaraja Swami (This incident took place in Little Kanchipuram). His eyes were full of tears; the temple bell chimed at the same instant.

He took the Bilva and Tulasi garland from His body and placed them on the picture, sprinkled akshata and sugar candy on it and raising both His hands blessed us fully twice.

Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Sarasvathi Swamigal was watching the scene from a distance. He later told me that I had received the grace in full measure from Maha Periyava and was looking at the picture in great joy.

Source: kamakoti.org

Categories: Devotee Experiences

Tags: darisana anubavangal