Many Jaya Jaya Sankara to Shri Ramanathan for the share. Rama Rama

I Shall Conduct Your Daughter’s Marriage

I had been waiting for two hours for the darshan, but couldn’t have it. Since waiting any longer would affect my office work (I had come to the nearby junction to do the inspection), with a kumbidu (joining palms in reverence) from a distance, I went to attend to my work.

Two hours later, an assistant from Sri Matam came to the railway station and told me that Sri Maha Periyava had asked him to bring me.

“Tell me exactly what Periyava told you.”

“Go and look in the Satara station. That Ramaswamy would be doing the inspection there. Ask him to come”, he said.

Finishing my work in a hurry, I went for the darshan. I wanted to seek his pardon but Periyava was very busy. I could not get back to my headquarters without finishing the work as my higher officials would be angry… So I started.

Periyava did not seem to mind my reply at all. “What do you want?” He asked me.

At that time, there was only one problem on my mind–my daughter’s marriage.

“My daughter should get married in a good place. Appa is pestering me so much. He too sends the jatakam (horoscope) to many people, asking for the varan jatakam (horoscope of the boy). Most people do not reply. The horoscopes that have arrived are not matching…”

“Only that? Alright, go. I shall conduct your daughter’s marriage.”

This clear reply astonished me. ‘I shall conduct…’

It seemed that a rain of ice was showered on me. Only those who encountered such unexpected attack of pleasure could understand my position then. Thinking no further, in a naive way, I asked him at once, “Satyamagach cholrela (are you telling the truth)?”

Such a question to the Sathya Swaroopam! (Thinking about it even now gives me shivers.)

The Karunai Vallal (patron of compassion) smiled slowly. That was all. This incident at that time was not recorded deep in my mind.

Going back home, I got immersed in my work. Two months later, a letter came from Mumbai. The reply with the horoscope of the boy, to the letter my father wrote sometime back that was not in memory.

The horoscopes were in agreement. With the other formalities completed, the marriage also took place.

After a gap of over two years.

Sri Matam camp in Kurnool.

I, my daughter and her child went for darshan of Sri Maha Periyava.

Keeping the child at Maha Periyava’s feet under his graceful look, we were replying to his inquiries. (The child meantime went to sleep.)

After Periyava gave prasadam, I took leave with my daughter and walked four or five steps back.

It seemed that Periyava called us back with a snap of his finger. We turned back.

“How am I to do rakshana (protection) of this child, keeping it in the Matam? Take it with you!”

We were overwhelmed with embarrassment. In the perananda (great joy) of Maha Periyava’s darshan, we totally forgot about the child!

My daughter ran and took the child in her arms. Periyava then told Sri Kantan, his assistant nearby, “Ask him if it is satisfactory for Ramaswamy.”

We did not understand. Why such a question now? We are only taking leave in happiness?

We could not reply.

“Ask what his daughter’s name is.”

“Uma!” I said.

“Mapillai peru (the bridegroom’s name)?”

“Sadasivan…”

“Alright… you should not blame me. I have conducted the marriage only after taking care of the peyar poruttham (matching of the names)!”

Tears flowed down my eyes. Such a power of remembrance? Such an anugraham? The Punnya (merits) of only a koti janmams (one crore births) would probably fructify collectively in this way.

Author:  N. Ramaswamy, Secunderabad
Source:  Maha Periyaval – Darisana Anubhavangal vol. 3

Categories: Devotee Experiences

Tags: darisana anubavangal