Ramana's homecoming
|
This year is the 125th birth anniversary of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi . S. JAGADISAN writes...
|
This Self or Atman is not realised by the study of the scriptures, or by a keen intellect or by listening to scriptural discourses. He whom It chooses attains it. To him, the Atman reveals itself — Kathopanishsad. The wind, it bloweth where it listeth. The rain, it raineth where it willeth.
ON JULY 17, 1896, 17-year-old Venkatraman underwent an unusual experience. It not only altered the course of his life, but came to be charged with tremendous potential significance for spiritual aspirants the world over. A sudden fear of death seized the young boy. The experience threw him into a retrospective or meditative mood. He turned inward and conducted an enquiry into the phenomenon of death. He held his breath, and stretched his limbs stiff. He tracked down this experience by relentless internal investigation, which culminated in a revelation.
Recalling this experience years later, he said, "With the death of this body, am `I' dead? This body cannot be the `I' for it lies silent and inert, while I feel the full force of my personality, of the `I' existing by itself, apart from the body. So, `I' am the spirit transcending the body. It flashed before me as living truth, a matter of indubitable, direct experience which has continued up to this time."
From this experience emerged a new Venkatraman. Studies, games and sports held no interest for him. He, who was given to aggressive ways, and a tendency to retaliate became soft, meek, humble, gentle and patient in his dealings with others. He became conscious of a hitherto unknown inner serenity and strength which endured without diminishing. He sought solitude and seclusion and lost himself in meditation. He recalled later. "After awakening into the new life, I would go almost every evening to the temple. I would go alone and stand before Siva or Minakshi or Nataraj or the 63 saints. I would feel waves of emotion overcoming me. The former hold of the body had been given up by my spirit. The spirit therefore longed to have a fresh hold and hence the frequent visits to the temple. I would stand before Ishwara and pray for the descent of his grace upon me so that my devotion might increase and become perpetual like that of the 63 saints. Often, I would not pray at all, but let the deep within flow on and into the deep without. Tears would mark this overflow of the soul."
Earlier in 1895, the casual mention of the name Arunachala struck a responsive chord deep within him. The turning point came six weeks after the thanatopsis — the vision and contemplation of death. On August 29, 1896, Venkatraman was copying an exercise mechanically from a book in English grammar. His heart was not in it. The members of his family were not slow to notice the marked change in his behaviour. His brother said in a jeering tone, `Why should one, who behaves thus, retain all this?' The implied meaning was clear to Venkatraman and it went home. The magic name Arunachala, which was haunting him, flashed across his mind and he lost no time making his plans to go there. He said that he had a special class to attend. His brother asked him to pay his college fee.
Venkatraman took three rupees to buy the ticket to go to Tiruvannamalai. He did not pay his brother's college fee. Instead of going to the school, he proceeded to the railway station without casting a longing, lingering look behind. He left a letter which is preserved in Ramanashram. Its gist is: "I have set out in quest of my Father and at his bidding. This is only embarking on a virtuous enterprise. Therefore, let none grieve over this affair. Let no money be spent in search of this." The letter was not signed.
Commenting on his `flight' from home, Bhagavan Ramana said in 1949 in a tone of regret that he had to suppress the truth from his aunt while leaving home for good. "She had great faith in me. I used to do every thing according to her wishes ad never told lies. I had to tell only one lie when I ran away from home to come here. When my brother asked me where I was going, I told him that I was going to attend a special class, After food, when I asked for keys, I told my aunt the same thing. How could she know? The poor lady believed what I said. These things had to happen.' He told Paul Brunton, ``I was literally charmed here. The same force, which drew you to this place from Bombay, drew me to it from Madurai."
Providence took a hand in facilitating his journey. He reached the railway station late, but the train also arrived late. He did not know that he could have bought a ticket straight to Tiruvannamalai. That would have cost just three rupees, which he had taken. Instead he bought a ticket to Tindivanam. A balance of three annas was returned to him. An elderly Muslim, one of the co-passengers, told him to get down at Villupuram and change train to go to Tiruvannamalai. Venkatraman alighted at Villupuram at 3 a.m. and went about the streets of the town in search of directions to Tiruvannamalai. He saw the sign post with the name Mamabazhapattu, which was on enroute. Tired, he went to a hotel for lunch. The owner, impressed by the glow on his face, declined the money.
Venkatraman bought a ticket to Mambazhapattu and reached there at 3 p.m. He still had 30 miles to go. He had no choice, but to walk the distance. By night fall, he reached the temple at Ariyaninallur.
He rested in the temple and when the evening worship was over, he asked the priest for some food. He was asked to go to another temple in Kilur, nearby. Even there, the priest refused him food. But, the temple drummer offered his share to Venkatraman. He walked a few steps with the rice on a leaf and fainted. A few people gathered round him and gave him water. He recovered, ate the food that lay scattered and then went to sleep.
The next day, August 31, was Krishna Jayanthi. Venkataraman went to the house of Muthukrishna Bhagavathar and asked for food. Bhagavathar and his wife were elated to have a young boy with lustrous eyes as their guest on such an auspicious day. They lavished their hospitality and affection on him. Venkatraman had no money to complete the journey. He pledged his earrings for four rupees. Bhagavathar gave him a receipt and his address so that Venkaraman could recover the jewel. His wife gave him a packet of sweets to eat on the way.
Venkatraman spent that night at the railway station. He tore the receipt given by Bhagavathar, since he had no intention of recovering the earrings. The next morning, September 1, 1896, he reached his chosen, hallowed destination.
It was at once journey's end and home coming. He went straight to the temple and reported his arrival to Lord Arunachala. He came out of the temple and had a tonsure. He threw away all he had, the few coins, the sacred thread, the packet of sweets and his clothes, except for a portion of the dhoti to serve as the loin cloth. His cup of bliss was full to the brim.
Ratha yatra
To celebrate this spiritual transformation Ramana devotees are organising a Ratha Yatra.
The procession will start on July 17 from Tiruchuzhi, Ramana's birth place and touch different places in Tamil Nadu, besides Palakkadu and Chittoor, before terminating at Tiruvannamalai on September 1.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
