OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

                                                                    THE RAIN

I am going to narrate three incidents relating to rain in this episode. One is my own experience, the other is told by Shri Janakirama Dhikshithar during a short discourse on the day of my Sashtiabthapoorthi and the third one is the narration by Narisimmaiah Srinivasan.

First my own: The marriage of my second son was fixed. I wanted my future daughter in law to perform Deepa Jyothi. (Married girls are not permitted to take Deepa Jyothi) It is the firm belief of the devotees of Gurunathar that the girls’ life will be brighter if she performs Deepa Jyothi in Thapovanam. So i sought permission from my Sammandhi to take his daughter to Thapovanam. He agreed. I got the invitations printed and as a practice we used to perform padha pooja in thapovanam placing the invitations in Gurunathar’s feet ( whatever may be the function this will be done) and then perform abishekam for my family deity. At the appointed day the girl along with her mother came to my house. It was raining cats and dogs. We could not even board the cars. They have to be driven inside the car park just for the sake of our boarding. In that heave rain we started for Thapovanam. The girl’s mother was worried how we are going to reach Thapovanam and whether her daughter will be performing the Deepa Jyothi. My wife assured her everything will be fine and leave it to Gurunathar. Once the cars started the rain thinned. We reached thapovanam safely. Next day morning there was a heavy drizzle. However, we went to the temple ready to perform Deepa Jyothi. It was drizzling heavily till that time the Gurukkal was performing Deepa arathanai to the Jyothi. The girl took the lamp in her hand and came out. Suddenly the drizzling stopped. It was like that till the Deepa Jyothi pradakshinam was completed. Once it was over the rain started again. After finishing poojas we started our journey my sons and the girl’s family to Chennai and myself and wife to the temple of our family deity. Both the drivers were apprehensive about the rain. So i took them both to the sannadhi of Gurunthar and asked them to do namaskaram near Makaravilakku placing the car keys and they did. We started out journey. (Later my sons phoned me up that they reached safely without any problem).  Our car airconditionar failed leaving a thin layer of snow like water particles in the glass  making it difficult for the driver to see the road. So he stopped the car. We started praying to Gurunathar. Suddenly the rain stopped and we started the car. Then an astonishing thing happened. Just in front and back of us about 200 meters away the rain started but not even a drop fell on our car leaving the windshield clean making it easy for the driver to drive. This happened all the way including our return to Chennai. When the journey was completed i asked the driver (hired) how much i have to pay he simply asked you need not pay anything just give me a photo of Gurunathar and that is enough. Now he is a regular visitor to Thapovanm.

The second : As told by Sri Janakirama Dhikshithar: He was an Engineer and a very staunch devotee of Gurunather. Whenever he starts important construction work he will visit Thapovanam and seek Gurunathar’s blessings. So one day he came to Thapovanam and told Gurunathar that he has arranged for construction of ceiling on that day. Gurunathar told him it will be raining today so postpone it for tomarrow. But the Engineer told him “ No I have already arranged for everything depending on your taking care of that . So it is now your duty to take care of that”. Smilingly Gurunathar told the Engineer “ In such case, take that stick and insert it in the sand mound and proceed with the work”. The Engineer did as he was told. On the evening next day, he came back to Thapovanam. Swamy enquired whether the work has been completed and the reply was affirmative. So he asked the Engineer to pull out the stick which was placed yesterday evening. The moment he pulled out the rain started pouring. Thus Gurunathar not only saved his construction but also helped the construction to become strong by raining on completion of the work.

Third Episode as narrated by Narasimmaiah Srinivasan: There was a strong devotee ofGurunathar. With the permission of Swami his last daughter’s dance arangetram was arranged at 4.00 pm at Thapovnam. Since morning hectic arrangements were going on like setting up of stage and mike etc. It was an open auditorium. But around 3.00 pm dark to very dark clouds appeared over the horizon making the organisers worried about the function. Swami, who was standing there watching the arrangements suddenly went inside to his room. The organisers worried what todo. Around 3.30 pm Gurunathar came out and told the people go ahead with the programme. But the arangetram must be completed before 6.30 pm and all the people should finish their dinner by 7.00 pm and go inside their rooms. (In swami’s words) “ I have tied a letter on the legs of a crow and sent message to Varuna Bhagwan to postpone the rain. So it wont rain till 7.00 pm.” Need I say that is what happened?

One devotee went to Gurunathar and prayed i have arranged marriage for my daughter and i fear that rain may spoil the arrangements. So please stop the rain. For which Gurunathar replied “ Rain helps the farmers a lot and they are dependant on it. So let us not pray for no rain. Let us pray that the function go on well inspite of the rain”. So it happened. During important marriage ceremonies the rain abated and during other times it poured .

JAI SAGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

WET RICE

The Ganapadigal, who had completed Vedha Adhyayanam, came to Thapovanam.Swami did not ask him anything. The office staff were instructed to take care of the Ganapadigal with madi aakaram. After three days Gurunathar called the Ganapadigal and enquired about what is worrying him (Enna kurai ungalukku). The Ganapadigal said to Swami “i belong to a family who  traditionally did Vedha Adhyayanam. A Mirasdar in our village had donated some agricultural lands for our living. Because of this Maha Periyava of Kanchi asked us to do adhyayanam only and  not to go for sastrigal profession. Once there was a function at the Mirasdar’s house (who donated the lands) and my ancestors were asked to attend as sastrigal. To honour the words  of Paramacharya my ancestors refused to do so. Angered by this the Mirasdar took back the lands. This act lead to our poverty. I am having a daughter to be married. Don’t know what to do. So i came here to tell you my problems.” The Ganapadigal was literally weeping when telling this to Gurunathar.

On hearing him, Gurunathar told him “ Oh come over here let us go to Anjaneyar Sannadhi and chant Sri Rudhram three times”. The Ganapadigal followed the advise of Gurunathar and started chanting Sri Rudhram in the Hanumar Sannathi.

That evening, in a big car, a Mirasdar came with some big bags. Gurunathar told the thapovanam officials “ How big bags these are? Ask him what he wants and tell the Mirasdar to come in”. The Mirasdar came in and told Gurunathar “Swami I heard that annadhanam is going on here and i brought the rice cultivated in our land to donate for that purpose”. Gurunathar replied “ Oh appadiya” and asked him to open the bags and pour the rice on the floor. This was done. Gurunathar took some rice in his hands and indicated that the rice is wet and asked the Mirasdar “ Why don’t you bring the rice dried. You have brought wet rice? How can you do this? You should have brought good rice”. The Mirasdar replied “ Swami i brought  dried and cleaned rice only”. Then Gurunathar replied “ No No the rice is wet. There must be some reason for this?. Then Gurunathar called the Ganapadigal  and asked him to tellgurunathar to which village the Ganapadigal belongs to?. The Ganapadigal replied with the name of the village.

Then Gurunathar looked at the Mirasdar and asked him “ You also belong to that village. You have taken over the agri lands given to that Brahmin family. To reduce that sin you have brought this rice to the swami”. The Mirasdar was shocked and perplexed.

Gurunathar showed the Ganapadigal to the Mirasdar and told  “ this man belongs to that family and you take care of his worries”. The Ganapadigal told his worries to the Mirasdar. Then the Mirasdar drew a cheque for a big amount and presented it to Gurunathar. Gurunathar immediately told him “ why are you giving it to me? Want to put that sin at my feet? That is not permitted hand over the cheque to the Ganapadigal”. Accordingly the cheque was handed over to the Ganapadigal thereby alleviating the poverty of the Ganapadigal and showing a way to the Mirasdar to redeem from his sin.

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

Courtesy: translated from an article in Gnana oli June 2014 issue.

I tried my level best to translate it. Please forgive me if this is not as much interesting as published in Gnana Oli 

OHM SHRI GURgUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

SADGURU GNANANANDHA

This is an abridged translated version of an article by Swami Chithswarupanandha written in the year 1996 and published in “Gnanaoli” September 2015 issue. As he has written the article in first person this is also done on the same lines.

I was working as a principal in a college. The then Government has issued an order  de-promoting me  as a lecturer against the rules and another person was appointed as Principal. I went to court against this order. The court temporarily stayed the Government order. I was in a disturbed state of mind. To have some peace i went to Thpovanam in the year 1960 for the first time.  (Swami Mukundanandha Saraswathi, who was my brother in his poorvashramam has told us about thapovanam and Swami who according to Swami Mukundhanananda Saraswathi was more than 160 years old at that time).

Gurunathar welcomed our family and arranged for our stay. After two days stay we sought his permission to leave but was told to stay back for one more day. During the stay i have been to Thrivikrama perumal temple at Tirukoyilur. Gurunathar enquired about my visit and the temple. When i explained my experience Gurunathar told me about the experiences of alwars and the history of construction of that temple. On the fourth day we sought permission to leave. I never told him about my official problems and told him that i came to Thapovanam. Then Gurunathar blessed us “ let us return back to home. Every thing will be good and there is no need for worry”. We came back home. In the next month itself the Judge dismissed the cased in my favour and i continued as a Principal till 1965 when i retired from the service. 

From then onwards i used to visit Thapovanam every year and stay there for few days. Gurunathar’s way of correcting the mistakes of the servants with a smile on his face and his not using any harsh words in anger attracted me towards him.

I was doing research on the life of  Adi Sankara Bhagavath Padhaal. Read Sankara vijayam books written by Anandagiri, Vyasachalar, Govindanandhar and Madhavar. I have written an article about Adhi Sankarar based on the writings of Vyasachalar. There was a dispute about Adhi Sankara attaining his Samadhi. Whether it was Kedharnath or Kanchipuram. There is a Samadhi of Adhi Sankara within 200 meters of Kedharntah Temple. Some people were of the opinion that he attained Samadhi at Kanchipuram.  But there is no Samadhi at Kanchipuram. This contradiction is created confusion in my mind. I strongly believed that Adhi Sankara was in Kanchipuram during his last days. I have decided to get this clarified with Gurunathar and asked him.  Gurunathar told me both versions are correct and true. He told me “ Sri Adhi Sankara attained Jala Samadhi in Kanchi and Vidheka Mukhthi at Kedharnath. He united with Lord Kedharnath leaving his physical body there.” Still not convinced i asked Gurunathar “Swami how is this possible” .Gurunathar replied “ He entered into water but never came out of it in Kanchipuram but came out in Kedharnath. He used this technique two or three times. So without anybody seeing him he went to Kedharnath and left his Bhoodha Sareera”.  After sometime i went to Kanchipuram and enquired  with people there is there any karna parambara kadhaigal or evidence this, i was shown the pathway inside the temple which lead to the tank and told that Adhi Sankara took this route to reach the temple. And thus my confusion regarding the Samadhi was cleared by Gurunathar.

My first daughter had a deformity in her leg. She studied well and was working as a teacher in a Government School. I was looking for alliance for her. Given advertisement in papers. But somehow or other the alliance did not happen. I was hesitant to talk to Gurunthar on this subject. In 1970 When i was in Thapovanam i broached this subject to Swami Mukundhanandha Saraswthi he told me to tell Gurunathar all my problems and leave it to him. Gurunathar will pray to god for you and all your problems will be solved. On his advise, i took my daughter and told Gurunathar about the alliance for my daughter. Gurunathar replied “Oh appadiya. Dont worry “. Then he took one fruit which was there and handed it over to my daughter telling her “ let you do pooja as a couple when you visit thapovanam next” (Adutha thadavai varumpothu thambathiyaaga poojai seyvom). Immediately on my return to my village, a good alliance came and my daughter got married. Now they are living happily and their first son is an engineer.

Like this swami chithswarupanandha has two more incidents. In view of the length i have cut short this article.

JAI SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM GURUBYO NAMAHA

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

I am starting this posting with my personal experience and how i became a devotee of Gurunathar. (hereafter i will refer Sadguru Swami Gnanananda Giri Swamigal as Gurunathar as some more swamikals name will appear in this post when it was needed).

In the year1981 i was working in Sirkali and was residing in the house of Sri M.S.Balasubramanian,( Balu mama) whose family was ardent devotee of Gurunathar and nothing absolutely nothing will be done without consulting Gurunathar before his attaining his Samadhi and praying to Gurunathar after his Samadhi.

I was invited to Chennai to attend the marriage of the brother in law of Sri  Balu mama. I attended the marriage with my wife and son. There is a custom in Balu mama’s house that nuptials will be celebrated only after the newly married couple perform Pada Pooja to Gurunathar at thapovanam. So the newly married couple started for thapovanam. As the car had more space i was asked to accompany the couple to thapovanam and from there proceed to Sirkali. We proceeded to thapovanam and i experienced a kind of inner peace when i stayed there in thapovanam. I also performed Padha Pooja and returned back to Sirkali.

After few months, i felt an urge to go to thapovanam. I sought the help of Balu mama and he also accompanied me with his wife. It was late night when we reached Thapovanam and was around midnight when we went to bed. Then Balu mama asked me why i intend to perform a Padha Pooja? Have i sought any favour from Gurunathar. I replied that i have no prayers and feel that performing a pooja with a request is like offering bribery to god so i am simply performing the pooja without any prayers. Please note it was around midnight and there were no other person in our room except our family.

Next day morning we got up and performed the pooja had our lunch and started back to Sirkali. When we boarded the car one Swamigal came and asked us whether we are going to Tiruvannamalai. Balu mama immediately replied yes though we had no intention of going to Tiruvannamalai. The the swamigal requested us to drop him at Tiruvannamalai and if we are interested we can have the dharshan of Yogi Ramsurathkumar where he was going. WE said yes and he boarded the car. The car moved and after asking about us he started a small discourse. The following is swamikal’s words.

“ Some people think that performing poojas to Sadgurunathar after praying him for some benefit as offering bribary. I will ask a simple question. Will you answer me?. We are dropping our hand kerchief. Somebody picks it and hands it over to us and we are thanking him. How many possibilities are there. 1. We ourselves can bend and pick it up. 2. We can ask the driver to do that 3. We can simply ignore  it and move away.  It is a simple thing with three possibilities. And we are thanking a person for an act which has three simple possibilities. In such case how we are going to thank god who does impossible things for us . One way of showing our gratitude is by performing poojas, homams and singing songs in praise of him. So please erase from your mind the thought of bribing Sadgurunathar.”

I felt like being hit by a boulder. How does he know what i had told to Balu mama?  Which made balu mama to say yes when we had no intention of going to Tiruvannamalai? What made him approach our car when there are more number of cars which are parked in the direction of Tiruvaannamalai? With his knowledge he could have chosen so many subjects to lecture us and why he chose this particular subject? I asked all these questions and the swamikal replied. Our Sadguru is omnipresent every where. Though he shed his mortal body he is still with us in the spiritual rupa. We had dharshan of Yogi Ramsuratkumar and returned back to Sirkali.

From that day onwards Gurunathar took me as his devotee and with us guiding us in every single thing and takes care of us like a devoted mother takes care of his child.

        SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM GURUBYO NAMAHA

RADHAVUKKU KALYANAM

Seshu Iyer was residing in Thapovanam along with his wife, sons and daughters Radha and Rukmani. The girls used to play inside thapovanam and at times Gurunathar will watch them playing. The girls use to play a game asking some one to sit in the middle and the other girls will go round and round singing songs. One day all the girls were playing such a game with Radha in the middle with Gurunathar watching and enjoying the girls singing. After some time Gurunathar stood up and joined the girls going round with Radha in the Middle. Suddenly Gurunathar started chanting Radhavukku Kalyanam Radhavukku kalyanam while dancing around Radha. The others girls took the cue from Gurunathar and started chanting the same. Radha asked Gurunathar whether Radha Kalyanam is going to be celebrated in Thapovanam and when it was going to happen. Gurunathar with his usual smile replied “ Yes. Radha Kalyanam nadakkaporathu but Thapovanathila illa”. Radha caught the drift of what Gurunathar was saying and told Gurunathar  that she was not inclined for marriage and stop ridiculing her . Gurunathar simply smiled at her and Radha left for home.

Seshu Iyer has an elder  brother Rajamani who was living in Kerala. Rajamani’s daughter gave birth to a male child. While conveying the news Rajamani asked Seshu Iyer to bring Radha also to Kerala while he is coming to see the child. Seshu Iyer sought the blessings of Gurunathar. Gurunathar blessed all in the family including the new born and wished them safe journey. Seshu Iyer along with his wife and Radha reached Kerala. After a week Seshu Iyer wanted to return back to Thapovanam and sought his elder’s permission. While giving permission Rajamani wanted Radha to stay back for a month. Seshu Iyer agreed and left for thapovanam with his wife.

Rajamani knows astrology and was doing it as a service to his friends circle only. One day one such friend visited Rajamani and handed over his son’s horoscope. He requested Rajamani  to look for a suitable bride for his son who is well employed and left.  One day while cleaning the loft Rajmani found out a note book containing horoscope of Radha. Curiosity getting better of him he matched the horoscope of Radha and his friend’s son and found that they were matching perfectly. Co incidently his friend also visited him on the very next day. Rajamani checked with his friend whether he is agreeable for Radha being the bride for which the friend gave affirmative answer. Then Rajamani told him that he will consult his brother and come back. Seshu Iyer was asked to come to Kerala and the proposal was put forth to him. Seshu Iyer who did’nt expect this told his brother that Seshu Iyer is not in a position to conduct the marriage as he did not have sufficient funds. After prolonged discussion Seshu Iyer told his brother that he will consult Gurunathar and write to him and returned back to Thapovanam. On hearing this Gurunathar blessed them both and asked Seshu Iyer to proceed with marriage arrangements. Gurunathar asked Radha “ what is this? The other day you told me not to ridicule you and now you are coming to me with a marriage proposal for which Radha replied A” Swami if you will it to happen who can stop that?”.  With the blessings of Gurunathar the marriage was conducted well and the couple are now doing well and leading a contented life. 

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDHA GNANANANDHA SADGURU GNANANANDHA

Newly married couple

The devotee is part of the group of Guruji. He used to travel with him and participate in Guruji’s bhajans. As a natural corollary he developed bhakthi on Gurunathar and became his ardent devotee. He belong to a small village near Tirunelveli. His brother informed him that his marriage has been fixed and with the blessings of Guruji and Gurunathar the marriage went off well. In few days the couple were left alone in their house. It is customary for the newly weds in the area that they will visit Tiruchendur and have dharshan or Lord Muruga as for most of them their family deity (Kula dheivam) is Tiruchendhur Murugan. Accordingly the bride also wanted that both of them should visit Tiruchendur first. But the groom has different idea. He told her my one and only swami is Gurunathar so i will have dharshan of Gurunathar’s adhistanam first and then only will come to any place you prefer. The argument was going on and developed heat among the couple. In an agitated mood he came out of his house. As it is a very small village every one knows every one. When he came out the vegetable vendor who was standing there asked him “ hello when you are going to Tiruchendur”. Without replying him the bridegroom went to a shop with an intention of chewing. The shop owner, a muslim, also asked him the same question and told him to have the dharshan as soon as possible. Frustrated he went to bus stand with an intention of boarding  the first bus that he sees where ever the bus may go. As luck would have been it, five buses came in a row and all the buses were going to Tiruchendur only. Dejected he walked out of the bus stand. There came a tempo and the driver stopped the vehicle and offered a ride home to the bride groom. The devotee checked with the driver where he is going. Pat came the reply “Tiruchendur”.  At last convinced that Gurunthar wants him to go to Tiruchendhur first he returned home and packed for Tiruchendur along with his wife. ( i have heard so many old people say that Gurunathar was very particular that every one should visit their family deity atleast once a year and it should not be forgotten. The experience narrated above clearly establishes the same.)

After having dharshan at Tiruchendur the couple headed straight for Thapovanam. They took a train which reached Villupuram around 9.00 am. Wondering whether they will be able to reach thapovanam in time to have the dharshan of Aarathi at Adhishtanam, the couple proceeded to Tirukoyilur. At Tirukoyilur the devotee purchased garlands. The bride was wondering what if  if the adhishtanam was closed and the garlands becomes waste. The devotee replied Gurunathar knows we are coming. It is for him to accept the garland or not. Whatever happens it is his decision and let us accept it with humility. When they reached thapovanam it was past 11.00 am. They alighted from the bus and there an official of Thapovanam was standing. On seeing the couple he shouted come on quick go to room and take a bath immediately and come for dharshan. The Deeparathanai will be in another half an hour. Needless to add that the couple did as were told. After having their lunch they enquired the reason for the delay and came to know there was a death near thapovanam and the poojas can be started only after the body was removed.  Gurunathar did not want their devotees that too the newly married couple to be disappointed.

SADHGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

ATCHAYA PAATTHIRAM

He was with Gurunathar since swami established Thapovanam ashramam. Gurunathar used to conduct classes of Vedhantha vicharam with him. He had the liberty of differing with Gurunathar and telling him that he differs. He had two daughters and a son. He is a man of very moderate income which was sufficient to run the family. His first daughter attained the age of marriage and he was worried about how he is going to conduct the marriage with his meagre income. His son has just started earning. He has no wealthy relatives who can be approached for financial assistance.

He prayed Gurunathar and the life meandered on. Meanwhile a good alliance came for his first daughter and the marriage was fixed. Though the groom’s side did not demand much he felt that he must atleast spend for the necessities. So he approached his brother in law, with whom he did not have any financial dealings till then, and he agreed to take care of the marriage expenses. Satisfied he returned home and now he has to take care of the feeding expenses. He met with a marriage contractor who after checking with the devotee about the number of persons who will be there for breakfast, lunch and dinner for three days and demanded a sum of Rs.33,000/- for the entire marriage. As the amount quoted seemed reasonable the devotee accepted and the marriage preparations were going on. The D Day arrived and the marriage including the kattu saadha koodai went on well. All those invited and those who heard about the marriage attended it and the crowd was more than double of what was expected. The marriage hall was deserted excepting the girl’s father, brother and very very close relatives. The amount has to be settled for the marriage contractor. The devotee was worried how much he will bill, because of the crowd was more than what the cook was told originally. The contractor came and submitted the bill. The bill was for Rs.33,000/-. The devotee was astonished. He asked the contractor why for which the contractor replied that was the original amount accepted by both of them. The devotee said to the contractor “ your bill should have been more. The number of persons who ate were more than double than what i told you at the time of booking. You must have incurred more expenditure atleast on groceries. So recalculate and submit the correct bill”. The contractor replied “ Yes. What you are telling you correct. There are more number of people than expected. But you must know one thing. Before started cooking i prayed to the Gurunathar whose photo you kept at the stage and started cooking. Believe me i have not spent an even a naya paise more than my original purchase and because of Gurunathar’s blessings i am able to serve to all those who came without anybody complaining. I cooked only for the number of people we originally agreed upon and inever increased the quantity nor compromised on the quality. That is why i have submitted the bill for the originally agreed amount and not more because i have not spent anything more than the original estimate.

SADHGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI    JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

LOST AND FOUND 2

She was an ardent devotee of the Sadgurunathar since her childhood and does not know any other god to pray. She is presently working in a software company in United States of America.

She had a blackberry phone and used to store all the data in the phone. The data includes her company files on which she was working. One fine evening when she was returning home from the company she lost the phone . She came to know that the phone was missing only after she reached home. She was confused where she lost it and worried as the phone had company data. As a child who does not know any other to pray she prayed to Sadguru “ you are the only person who can find that phone  for me and if you desire please find the phone for me”. After waiting for sometime to see whether she can remember where she lost the phone, she decided to go to the nearest AT & T shop in person to get a new phone with sim and to deactivate the old one. The phone dealer immediately responded and handed over a phone and a sim card and was in the process of deactivating and activating the sim card. Just then the shop owner received a call stating that a person is on the line with the phone number the dealer intend to deactivate. The dealer listened and the caller was telling him that he had found the  phone in the train as it did not have charge he could not contact till then so he came home charged the mobile and was calling AT & T customer service to inform about the phone. The devotee was overjoyed and got her phone back. Gurunathar has arranged the caller to make the call at the nick of the time other wise the number would have been deactivated and it will be difficult for him to find out the owner.

               JAI SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

                          MAHIZHVITHU MAHIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

LOST AND FOUND 1

Under this head i am going to narrate two experiences to the devotees of Sadgurunathar. Not only the devotees but also their entire family including close relatives are doing yeoman services to Sadgurunathar. As usual i have not got their permission to narrate so the names were not disclosed and again posting from memory so factual errors may please be corrected. Both the incidents happened in United States of America.

Incident 1

He was a senior devotee of Sadgurunathar. His son is employed in a big city in United States of America. So he used to frequent between US of A and India. While the devotee was employed he met with accidents frequently.  (once my son asked him how you still believe in Sadgurunathar in spite of so many accidents, the devotee replied i am alive in spite of so many accidents because of Sadgurunathar only and that is his devotion to Gurunathar). The frequent accidents lead to his temporary loss of memory. He don’t know when the loss will occur or when the memory will come back. So normally he will go out with escort only whether it is India or outside. Once, he went to US of A to be with his son for a short period. Daily in the evening he used to go for a walk along with his wife. On the fateful day, he wanted to go out and as his wife was engaged in some domestic work she asked him to wait. He said yes i will wait outside and you come and join me. But instead of waiting he just started roaming the street. While walking the couple used to chant the gurunathar’s name and he followed the same routine on that day also. Unknowingly he crossed that street and walked more than two kilometres. Then the loss of memory struck. He could neither remember where he was nor his residential address or his son’s name. Confused he sat down on a bench simply chanting gurunathar’s name. Suddenly a Malayalee girl, in her late twenties, came and asked the devotee are you from India and the devotee replied yes. She asked the devotee for his residential address for which the devotee replied that he could not remember. So that girl decided to take him to her place where more number of Indians particularly south Indians are residing. The taxi went through the street where the devotee is residing. Suddenly he remembered the street and told the driver to stop as this is my street where i live. They both got down. Meanwhile, the devotee’s wife has decided to search for him and just was getting down from her house on to the street and saw these two people walking towards her. On seeing them she immediately rushed to them and told the girl that the devotee was her husband and enquired her what happened. The girl simply told the wife that the man was sitting in a park and she is bringing him to his house. So as per our tradition the girl was invited into the house. There used to be a big picture of Gurunathar which will adorn the wall in the hall. On seeing this picture the girl started crying loudly and asked who is this again and again. After consoling her the family was able to get details from her. She told “ i was working in   such and such company. My seat was near to the glass wall through which i can see the park which is just opposite to my office. Today evening while i was working i felt some one telling me something. Nobody was before me but still the feeling never left me. So i concentrated then i heard these words. Go outside to the park  and take that old man to his house. I could not believe it. So sat without doing anything just thinking what i heard was true or not. Just then this swamy appeared before me and told me again the same words. I told him i don’t know who he is and his residence. Then swamiji told me he will guide me.  And with that words i rushed out and took him as was told to me. The rest you know”. Now that girl has also became a devotee of Sadgurunathar.

              

                            JAI SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

                                      MAKIZHVITHU MAHIZH

OHM GURUBYO NAMAHA

SINGAPORE DEVOTEE

(To protect the privacy of the concerned the names have been changed)

Mr Senthil decided to go to Thapovanam and was about to leave his home. Then his phone rang up. One of his friends, one Mr. Selvam  from Singapore called Mr. Senthil. From the tone of the speech of Mr.Selvam, Mr.Senthil felt something amiss. So he mentally decided to postpone the trip to thapovanam and listen to his friend. Mr Selvam was in a dejected mood and was telling Mr.Senthil that he has lost interest in living as he is facing so much of problems in life and nothing seems right. Whatever he does goes wrong and he could not bear the pressure and ridicule of others. He intends to commit suicide and before that he wanted to talk to Senthil. Mr Senthil pondered over this and calmly requested Senthil to wait for few days as he is going to Thapovanam and he will talk to Selvam on his return and sought assurance from Selvam that he will not do anything till such time he talks to Senthil. Mr. Selvam somewhat cooled down by now promised so. Then Mr. Senthil left for thapovanam. On reaching thapovanam he strightaway went to the Adhistanam of Gurunathar and prayed for Mr. Selvam. That night he stayed back and performed poojas next day and left thapovanam the third day.

After reaching his house he called Mr. Selvam. When Mr. Selvam answered Senthil could discern a marked difference in his voice.  Selvam started telling Senthil that he has changed his mind and will face the problems with renewed vigour and promised that he will never ever talk about suicide therafter. Senthil was very happy at the turn of events and enquired about how or what changed the mind of Selvam. Selvam replied “ on the night i spoke to you i went to bed confused and dejected. I was completely down and don’t know when i went to sleep. In my dream a sanyasi with jadamudi and a temple gopuram appeared and told me that all my troubles are over and thereafter that sanyasin will take care of him  and the dream ended. Next morning when i woke up i vividly remembered the dream and felt refreshed and a new strength in me with my mind cleared of cobwebs. Hence i have decided not to commit suicide and face the life’s challenges” . On hearing this Senthil told Selvam about his prayer to Gurunathar and probably Gurunathar may have come in his dreams. If that is so Selvam wanted Senthil to send the pic of Gurunathar immediately. The only pic of Gurunathar Senthil had was this pic  looked somewhat like this. i.e. the pic of Gurunathar in Jadamudi only. This he forwarded to Selvam. In another five minutes Senthil received another call from Selvam who was crying over phone telling Senthil that this was the same sanyasin who came in his dream and assured him that the trevails of Selvam is over.

The Aradhana of Gurunathar is being celebrated in the tamil month of Margazhi and we one set of devotees will be doing service during aradhana period. During that time we used to assemble in the ashram around 3.30 am and will be chitchatting (mostly about Gurunathar) till the office is opened. During one such morning  one Mr. Ramanathan  who was a devotee having the fortune of being close to Gurunathar was telling me this story.  He told me that Senthil was his friend and he briefed Ramanathan about this incident . Office opened and we dispersed.  Sometime around 10.00 am a couple came to me asking for the whereabouts of Ramanathan. As i could not find him immediately i introduced them to Mrs.Ramanathan and came back to the office.  Shortly after sometime Ramanathan brought them to me and told me that the girl was the sister of Selvam and the couple are here to perform pooja on behalfof Mr. Selvam.  Then I understood that you need not be a devoted devotee of Gurunathar to take care of you and a simple prayer by any one known to you is enough for Gurunathar to shower his grace.

JAI SADGURU

BHOLO SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI - JAI

OHM GURUBYO NAMAHA

DAUGHTER’S MARRIAGE

Ramabhadra Sastrigal was a devotee of Gurunathar. He is doing vaidheekam as profession and used to visit Thapovanam. Gurunathar used to ask him to recite Rudram Chamagam.  Sastrigal was very poor. He has a daughter at the marriageable age. One day a bridegroom came asking for his daughter’s hand and the marriage was settled. Though the bridegrooms family demanded nothing Sastrigal felt  that he needs atleast Rs.10000 to celebrate his daughter’s marriage. He did not have cash with him and his efforts to raise the money failed him. At last his wife advised him to approach Gurunathar for the marriage expenses. Releuctantly , sastrigal felt asking Gurunathar for monetary gains was not correct, Sastrigal came to Thapovanam and after seeking blessings from Gurunathar told his problem. Gurunathar jovially told Sastrigal that he is not running a bank to finance the marriage of his daughter. Then he asked Sastrigal to stay back and recite Rudram and Chamagam in Gnana pureeswarar sannadhi, which the Sastrigal did without need for further prompting. All the morning poojas were over and Sastrigal was asked to have his prasadham (lunch) and take rest. In the evening Gurunathar came out of his room and sat in a place surrounded by devotees. Sudddenly he asked the kitchen staff for a coconut which was promptly delivered. Everyone was wondering why Gurunathar asked for coconut when the coconuts for poojas were already there. But everyone felt something is going to happen. Then two bus loads of Gujarathis came to Thapovanam.  Gurunathar enquired them and the gujarathis’ told Gurunathar that they were on the way to Rameswaram and on seeing the board Thapovanam felt like having Dharshan of swamiji and stopped the bus and came inside for dharshan of swamiji. Gurunathar smiled and blessed them. Then he thrown a challenge to those Gujarathis they should break open the coconut with bare hands and should not use any instruments or hit the coconut over the floor. Failing to do the Gujarathis must pay Rs.100/- each and the winner takes all the amount collected so far.  The Gujarathis understood that Gurunathar is playing his thiruvilayadal and they were part of the game plan. So every one including the children in their group came tried to break the coconut , failed and paid Rs.100/-. After all of them were done Gurunathar called the sastrigal and asked him to break the coconut. Sastrigal was telling Gurunathar ” Swami how can a lean man like me break the coconut when all these persons with strength could not do it”. Gurunathar smilingly replied “ trying costs nothing. As a special case i will grant you one concession. You need not pay Rs.100/- if you fail to break the coconut.  Let us pray Lord Ganesha to give you strength to give you enough strength to break the coconut”. At the persuasion of Gurunathar    Sastrigal took the coconut and tried to break it.  There was a shout from the crowd “Oh God” when the coconut broke into two. Gurunathar told sastrigal well done as you broke the coconut take all the amount here as promised by me. Gladly Sastrigal took the cash and counted it. It contained exactly Rs.10100/- (Rs.10000/- for marriage expenses and Rs.100/- for travelling expenses).

SADGURU GNANANANDA GIRI MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM SRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDHA GNANANANDHA SADGURU GNANANANDHA

CHINNA CHINNA AASAIKAL

This week i am going to write about my own experience of how Gurunathar takes care of even your small desires and if they are not harming anybody will be done immediately. And one more incident as narrated by Ms. Geetha Sundar.

My father in law’s family deity is Thirupathi Venkatachalapathi. He decided to go to Thirupathi and invited my family. So one fine morning around 6.00 am we left Kumbakonam in two cars. My father is law was in the other car. As thapovanam is enroute to Thirupathi myself and my wife have decided to have dharshan at Thapovanam. We thought we will be reaching thapovanam around 9.30 am and will be in a position to have dharshan of atleast Adhishtana Deeparathanai. But Gurunathar willed otherwise. My father in law who hates fast driving have instructed both the drivers not to drive in a speed of more than 40 km. As he is very close to the car owners his wish was their command. I don’t know this. I was wondering why the car is going very slow. At last around 9.30 we reached Panrutii. Even then I thought i can reach Thapovanam before 10.30 am and atleast have dharshan of adhistanam. Again my father in law intervened and stopped the vehicle saying let us have break fast here. As my children were asking for breakfast i have no other go except to accept it. So myself and my wife prayed to Gurunathar “ Though we will be crossing your adhistanam we will not be in a position to have your dharshan. If that is your will let  it be so.”. After finishing breakfast we started again and it was around 11.00 am when we reached Thapovanam. We asked the Driver to stop the vehicle. We talked amongst ourselves even though the adhishtanam will be locked atleast let us do a pradakshinam and do namaskaram at the thapovanam before leaving for Tirupathi. So we entered thapovanam did namaskaram and did one pradakshinam and then started to leave. As we are regular visitors some thapovanam people knows us. Suddenly one of them asked us to wait. Wondering why he is asking us to wait, we did as we were asked. Then the person who does pooja at adhistanam opened it and showed Deeparathanai. I could not express how we felt. We never thought we were going to witness the deeparathanai at adhishtanam. But Gurunathar saw to that a special deeparathanai was done exclusively for us. After having dharshan we enquired why the adhistanam was reopened and deeparathanai was done, we were told   “ that the keys of the temple were kept inside the adhistanam and it was locked. If they were to lock the temple they have to reopen the adhistanam again and once the adhistanam is opened they have to perform aarathi. That is how it happened”.

My second son got married and all of us are visiting Thapovanam first time after the marriage especially the bride. It was around 6.45 pm Friday evening when we reached Thapovanam and they are going to light the Makaravilakku. Then i thought “ adada we came late. Gurunatha  this girl has visited first time to thapovanam as my daughter in law and her life will be good if she lights the makara vilakku”. The point to note is i have neither informed the office nor paid the amount for lighting Makaravilakku as we are just entering the thapovanam. With this thought lingering in my mind i was standing there without doing anything. Just then i heard someone calling me and asking me where is your daughter in law. An old devotee of Thapovanam who was with Gurunathar since her childhood was asking me the question. I introduced my daughter in law. She told my daughter in law come on you light the Makaravilakku first and with the blessings of Gurunathar your life glow like this makaravilakku. I told her look i have not informed at office nor paid the amount. Then she told me Every one knows you at the office. Go there and inform them now and pay. In the meanwhile let her light it. My prayer was heard and my daughter in law lighted the makaravilakku instantly. And the great thing is now she is insisting on visiting thapovanam before doing anything and everything. Gurunathar has taken her also under her wings.

This is an experience of a Devotee. She had commented in one of my write up. The experience in her own words.

Similar to this happened on my marriage also. My grandmother worried so much regarding alliances of mine. We went to thapovanam for aarathanai in 2006. In the nanthavanam some maami came to my paati and said please offer a saree to swamy here and tell your grand daughter to wear it and take theepajothi. My Maami hearing this took me on the next bus to thirukkovilur and got me a saree and did as the maami said. I got a good alliance with swamy's grace and now have a happy life. My husband is also a sincere disciple of swami. During our trouble times he said to me I know we trust swamy and he will guide us.

 I wanted to go to thapovanam when the alliance was fixed but I had my engagement on the next day after my husband's family visited. On the engagement day Siva maama gave athistanam in a frame as mandapam as a gift. My maama who is Srini Seshadri here told swamy is here so we will write pattrikai on it. My periappa who is swamy's strong devotee wrote it on keeping swami athistanam with him. This is how our swami gives his blessings

JAI SADGURU NATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAVAROGA VAIDHYAN III

This incident was told to me in person by the devotee himself who still comes to Thapovanam to seek the blessings of Gurunathar.

He was young and no one including his parents have heard about  Gurunathar or anything about him. This incident is described to show how Gurunathar treated anyone who came to him whether they are old devotees, new devotee or a person who don’t know about Gurunathar.

The devotee at his young age had a medical problem. His right leg below waist had suddenly became numb and he could neither move them nor feel anything. After taking treatment with local doctors for some time, he was taken to Vellore for treatment. There the doctors tried to treat him but to no avail. Finally they decided that the ailment could not be cured and discharged him from the hospital. Crestfallen, his parents were preparing to leave Vellore. Then some one who came to the hospital enquired the devotee’s parents about the ailment. He was told what happened. Then the person told the devotee’s parents as you are going to your home town via Gnanananda Thapovanam why don’t you drop and have a Dharshan of Gurunathar and to the best of my knowledge he is the only person who can cure this ailment. Encouraged by his words all of them came to Thapovanam. When they entered thapovanam Gurunathar was giving dharshan to the assembled devotees. The devotee and his parents had dharshan and waited for an audience with Gurunathar to plead with him for curing the boy. Gurunathar , who was giving dharshan till then suddenly stood up and entered into his room. Day one passed Gurunathar did not turn up for giving dharshan.Day two the same story. Day three the parents got fed up and started talking that “ Gurunathar will give audience only to rich people or people who are close to him. There is no use in waiting for him and let us go.”. The devotee was mesmerised by the appearance of Gurunathar and told his parents “ Either i will walk from Thapovanam or my dead body will leave here”. Remember his right leg was sort of paralysed and he could not move. Immediately on uttering these words there was commotion in the hall and Gurunathar appeared in front of the devotee and told him “ Naama intha uruthiyoda iruppom” (let us be firm on this conviction) and given him vibhoothi. A place was allotted to him in the mahapradhakshinam (Deepa Jyothi) route and daily Gurunathar used to give him Vibhoothi and Dheertham which he will consume. Time went on. He slowly started feeling in his legs and was able to move his leg. After some time he started walking with the aid of a stick.  While recovering he used to spend his time by preparing pockets of Vibhuthi and Kunkumam.

One Evening, Gurunathar was giving Dharshan in Annai Mandapam.The devotee was entering into Annai Mandapam walking with the aid of a stick. Whenever he enters Annai Mandapam he used to put the stick in a corner and will walk with the holding the parapet wall and move towards Gurunathar. 

On nearing him Gurunathar asked the devotee to bring that stick and hand it over to him. The devotee obliged. Gurunathar simply thrown away the stick and told the devotee “ Naama ithu illama nadakka muyarchi pannuvom” (let us try to walk without the help of the stick). To cut a long story short the devotee and his wife used to have any number of pradhakshinams whenever they visit Thapovanam which is quite often. The Devotee is now enjoying life with his grand children. You can see him, his wife and his father doing rounds non stop in thapovanam if you happen to be there when these people are there.

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAVAROGA VAIDHYAN II

Parvathi Ammal is a devotee of Sadugurunathar from earlier days and a resident of Thapovanam village. She used to come to the ashramam in the early morning to sing “thinasari Vazhipadu” a practice started by Sadgurunathar himself. She had been to Chennai to visit her sons and while she was in Chennai she developed some pain in her ear. She tried some patti vaithyam but the pain has not subsidised. Fortunately an ENT specialist known to the family is available nearby. She went to him and the Doctor conducted many tests and finally told Parvathi ammal that an operation has to be performed to cure her of the pain. The Doctor also told her that the operation will cost around Rs.30,000/- excluding his fees which he is willing to forego. Parvathi ammal informed the doctor that she will consult her husband who is in Thapovana, arrange for funds and will return back in a week for the operation. Doctor said ok and she returned back to thapovanam. Next day early morning she went to the ashram and stood in front of the Adhistanam and prayed to Sadguru “ please cure my ailment as it will be difficult for my husband and my sons to generate Rs.30,000/- within a short period. After that she requested for the abhisheka theertham from the ashram authorities which was given to her. She started drinking a little abhisheka theertham daily. Her sons phoned up that they have arranged for the funds and requested her to come to Chennai for the operation. As the funds angle has been settled Mrs. Parvathi Ammal returned to Chennai and went to the Doctor to fix up a date for operation. The doctor wanted to conduct some more tests before the operation and Parvathi ammal was asked to get them done. Accordingly she took all the tests and brought the results to the ENT Specialist. The Doctor told Parvathi ammal to go to the lab and get the correct  reports. As parvathi ammal was little bit old the Doctor took it upon himself to talk to the lab authorities for the correct report. The lab authorities confirmed that the reports sent to him was the report of the tests conducted on Parvathi ammal and there was no mistake on their part and there was no problem either with the tests or the machines or the results. The Doctor was astonished and told Parvathi ammal” there is  no need to conduct the operation because the growth which i wanted to remove is not there. Dont think i tried to cheat you you can take both the test reports i.e. which was conducted earlier and the current one to any ENT specialist and can get an second opinion. Mrs. Parvathi Ammal replied Dr. I have full faith in you and in my Gurunathar who had cured my illness. AS the Doctor himself been to thapovanam little bit earlier he simply accepted.

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

OM SHRI GURUBYO NAMAHA

BHAVAROGA VAIDHYAN

Smt Kalyani Marghabandu was the poorvasrama sister of Guruji Swami Haridoss Giri. She was blessed to be with Gurunathar since her childhood and had lots and lots of experiences. One such experience she told me and I am narrating here from my memory Any wrong information is because of my absentmindedness and not the mistake any one else.

In the street, where Kalyani mami is residing, there was a woman living with her two small kids. She was very poor and eking her living by making appalams and selling it. Kalyani mami is a regular visitor to Thapovanam and whenever she visits she used to take with her as many people as possible to have the dharshan of Gurunathar both when he was with his sthoola sareeraa and after his attaining his Samadhi. This lady has also requested mami to take her to thapovanam which mami has also promised.

One fine morning she met and requested mami to take her immediately to thapovanam. Mami who just returned from Thapovanam told the lady that mami will be visiting thapovanam in another fortnight and will take the ladyto thapovanam  at that time. But the lady was adamant. Then mami enquired the reason for adamancy. The lady replied that she had pain in stomach and went to hospital for check up. She was diagnosed as a cancer patient and the cancer was at a very advanced stage. She has only a fortnight to live. Hence the lady wants to have the dharshan of swami before her death so that she wont have any further birth. Mami was shocked and told the lady. OK take it from me that you will like and i will take you to thapovanam within a fortnight. After seeing off the lady   Mami went to the Pooja room and took the pictures of Gurunathar and Guruji and turned them back and laid it down facing downwards telling them that mami wont look at their faces till the lady’s ills were mitigated.  Let us stop here for a while  and go back some years back.

As told earlier, Mami was blessed to be with Gurunathar since her childhood. Gurunathar was staying in Siddhilingamadam (A place where Gurunathar stayed before his coming to Thapovanam also near Tirukoilur). On one such day Gurunathar called mami to his room. There mami observed a bag  of Vibhuthi put in. Gurunathar asked mami to perform vibhuthi abhishekam on him then and there. Mami a person, like Guruji, who never questions Gurunathar’s instructions performed the abhishekam. On completion mami was asked to bag the vibhuthi again. Then Gurunathar instructed Mami to immediately go home and keep the vibhuthi at her home as if any one knows about the abhisheka vibhuthi,  they will ask for a share and nothing will be left for mami. Mami immediately started for Chennai and kept the vibhuthi at her home. From then onwards mami used to give the vibhuthi as a medicine to those who are suffering from illness. Let us return back to original experience.

On that night Gurunathar came in the dream of Mami and asked mami why she was angry with Gurunathar and Guruji. Mami told him about the travails of the lady and Gurunathar laughed and told mami you are angry at us but i have already had given you the medicine. Mami got confused an asked Gurunathar what was the medicine. Then Gurunathar reminded her about the abhisheka vibhuthi and told her to give the vibhuthi to the lady for fifteen days.   Mami woke up and the next morning called on the lady and gave her the vibhuthi and asked her to put a little  vibhuthi in water and drink it for fifteen days. To make a long story short, the lady who was supposed to die in fifteen days is a regular visitor to Thapovanam even today.

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

  

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAKTHA VATSALYAN

A simple introduction before starting this episode. I am posting this in certain groups in face book where people who don’t know about gurunathar exists. When reading about gurunathar, as i am not mentioning the name of Gurunathar, they are asking who is this swamiji and where he is. So from this post i intend to write Gnanananda Gnanananda Sadguru Gnanananda in every post hereafter.

When talking about Gurunathar this title Bhaktha Vatsalyan can be given to any episode i am posting as all of them are related to how Gurunathar treated us and helped us. But as i intend to post two are three small incidents in every post i have captioned as such.

To start this small episodes i was thinking where to start. Then it struck me to start with a person whom Gurunathar has selected for propagating his pet theme of Namasangeerthanam through out the world and who followed Gurunathar’s instructions  dutifully to the dot.  Yes he is none other than “Guruji” Swami Haridoss Giri. I am starting this episode with an incident related to him.

As per the instruction of Gurunathar, Guruji used to visit so many places and conduct Nama sangeerthanam bhajans. On one such trip he went to Madurai and for three days the Nama Sangeerthanam was celebrated. There was heavy rush for the function and some leaders of Saurashtra community were also attending the bhajan and enjoyed Guruji’s singing. On the third day they approached and requested Guruji to conduct a discourse on His Holiness Natana Gopala Nayaki Swamigal (H H Natanagopala nayaki swamigal is a revered saint and was held in high esteem by the saurashtra community to which he belonged). Guruji replied as he did not know anything about Nayaki swamigal he will be obliged if the community people give guruji some books about Nayaki swamigal. They handed over some books. Guruji responded that he will visit thapovanam from Madurai and come back in a day or two to conduct the discourse. Then Guruji returned to Thapovanam and after completion of usual formalities he informed Gurunathar about the request of Saurashtra people and prayed that Gurunathar should help him in the discourse as he did not know anything about Nayaki Swamigal. Gurunathar blessed him ‘ Madurai poi upanyaasam seyvom. Swami koodave irukku”. Satisfied Guruji returned back to Madurai and the discourse was started. It went on for more hours than originally scheduled and the crowd listened to him with rapt attention. On completion of discourse the saurashtrian people approached and thanked him for a wonderful discourse and one of them asked Guruji “ swami the other day you told us that you don’t know anything about our Nayaki Swamigal and asked for some books on him. But what today you told us is something new and they are not available in the book. How come you came to know all these details. Just we are curious to know and this is not doubting you”. Guruji replied “ Immediately on starting the discourse i went into a trance and my Gurunathar told you the history of Nayaki swamigal and only on completion i came out of the trance and still i don’t know anything about Nayaki Swamigal.”

SADGURU GNANANANDA GIRI MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAKTHA VATSALYAN 2

He belongs to a poor family. So at the age of 10 he was sent to one of his relative’s house to work as a domestic help. The relative was a devotee of Sadgurunathar. The relative had a son who was unwell. Gurunathar asked the relative to send her son to thapovanam and reside there itself. So the poor boy accompanied the ailing son to thapovanam for taking care of the ailing boy’s food and other needs. That is how he came into contact with Gurunathar. After finishing the daily chores the boy started doing odd jobs at thapovanam. Gurunathar liked him. Few years went by. The ailing boy’s family was called and told that the ailment will become severe and that will be the end of ailing boy and he may be taken home to spend the last days with his family. The ailing boy went home and the helper was retained at thapovanam by gurunathar. Now the boy has started full time work at thapovanam. One fine morning he was called in and Gurunathar asked him where the boy wants to work? In Neyveli, Chennai or any other place. The boy replied that he wanted to learn driving. Accordingly gurunathar sent him to a retired army personnel who was running a driving school at Tirchy. As this boy was sent by Gurunathar the army man not only taught him driving but also some mechanical work relating to cars. On completion of training the boy returned back to thapovanam. There was some delay in getting the driving license. On receipt of it the boy got himself registered with District Employment Exchange. He went to Gurunathar and told him that he had registered with employment exchange only now and heard that there are vacancies in Educational Department, which he wanted to join. Swamy blessed him “Don’t worry. You will get that appointment and the order will be delivered at your home”. It happened and the boy joined in Ariyalur as a Driver. After few years he was transferred to Nanguneri. He wanted to be able to come to thapovanam whenever it pleases him. So he applied for a transfer to either Cuddalore Ulundhurpet or Panruti  located in his native district i.e. south arcot district.He reliably learnt that these three places were allotted jeeps and the drivers yet to be appointed. To get the transfer at an early date he gave it in writing that he is willing to forgo his seniority and his travelling allowance expenses. He simply prayed to Gurunathar (not in person) for a transfer to any one of these places as they were near to thapovanam  i.e. within 50 kms. In few days he got an order of transfer. He was astonished to see that he has been transferred to Villupuram without any need for him to forgo his travelling allowance or his seniority. What astonished him most was that there was no vehicle allotted to Villupuram. Though he did not like to serve in Villupuram as he thought the work will be heavy and he may not be able to visit and have dharshan of Gurunathar frequently. However, he reported for duty at Villlupuram. His boss told him, as there is no vehicle available at present and he had sought the vehicle of nearby officer, it will be sufficient for the boy to attend the office one week in a month when the jeep will be made available to his boss and for the rest of the month he can do whatever he want without leaving the district. This perfectly suited to the boy and he once again started to go to Thapovanam as his wont. Not only that he took all his superiors for the Dharshan of swami and his superiors are pleased with him resulting in his entire service till his retirement was spent in Villupuram only.

Now he is retired, got his daughters married and well settled in life and that too in Villupuram itself with his own house and car. He is frequenting Thapovanam at least once in a week and doing services at thapovanam in whatever way he can.  This is a story of a boy who came to thapovanam as a domestic help became a sincere devotee and how swami took his under his care which he enjoys till date.

I think it will be interesting to add. He was telling his experience to me on Chithra Pournami day.  It was after midnight when i  was listening to him. I thought i was observing whatever he said but when i started narrating his experience i came to know that i have forgotten some details. With his phone number not with me i prayed sadguru for a meeting with that devotee.. Believe me we met on the third day in a marriage with more than two hours to spare and i could get my doubts clarified and narrate his experience now.

                    JAI SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

                            MAGIZHVITHU MAGIZH

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAKTHA THAYAPARAN

Due to our circumstances inadvertently we are failing in our duties to be performed to our ancestors. This episode is my own experience and hope i describe it correctly so that you can understand how Gurunathar takes care of his devotees and suggesting alternate methods in fulfilling our duties.

I bought a flat in Chennai and conducted Grahapravesamin 1996. (the  purchasing of that flat is another story in which Gurunathar goes extra yard  to help his devotees can be observed. With his blessings i will describe it soon). As there was no Sumangali Prarthanai conducted that year i have decided to conduct it along with the Grahapravesam. Both my parents initially consented for that. On the day of Sumangali Prarthanai my father called me and cancelled the Sumangali Prarthanai as my sisters could not attend it on that day. I was crestfallen and based on the advise of some elders who are our well wishers we have done annadhanam to some sumangalies and distributed the sarees to them. Thereafter for one reason or other we could not conduct Sumangali Prarthanai. As i was employed my trip to Thapovanam will be infrequent in those days and i have never been to thapovanam during Navarathri festivities. But during 2001 Navarathri i had continuous holidays and decided to visit Thapovanam. Accordingly myself, my wife and Sirkali Balu mama and his wife (those who read my first posting will know these people) took a car and travelled to Thapovanam. On the way my wife was talking to Mrs. Balu that it pains her that the we could not conduct the Sumangali Prarthanai and has a fear that it may affect our family. Mrs Balu was consoling my wife that don’t worry Gurunathar will take care of it and come on let all of us pray to him.  We reached Thapovanam and allotted rooms. In the evening my wife and Mrs.Balu was called to office and was offered sarees for Navarathri. Both of them were glad that they received sarees from thapovanam and that too during Navarathri and felt Gurunathar blessed them through this. After taking the sarees we are moving towards adhistanam. Then one Swamiji who is also residing in Thapovanam came. My wife and  Mrs. Balu offered namaskarams and told him that they have been given sarees by trustees of the ashramam. Immediately the Swamiji told them “ oho thapovanathula koduthaala? Santhosham. Aana vaangikka theriyarathu kodukka theriyalaiye” (good you got the sarees from thapovanam. You people know how to get but don’t know how to give). We got shocked and both of us  immediately arranged for purchase of a nine yard saree and a six  yard saree and handed it over in the office for Navrathri use.

Next day morning an eldest couple was participating in the Dhambathi pooja. The Sastrigal might have been in the early ninetees and his wife will be in her late eightees. Incidently the maami was wearing the saree given by us and we felt that we were blessed to see that one of the oldest sumangalies is wearing the saree bought by us. On completion of pooja, we were returning back to adhistanam again encountered the Swamiji and told him that we have given a 9 yard and a 6 yard saree to thapovanam and an oldest sumangali was wearing the saree for the dhambathi pooja. He replied Gurunathar has accepted your offering. Dont think i have ridiculed  you yesterday. Every family was supposed to perform Sumangali Prarthanai. On that day every woman of your family who died Sumangali will be expecting that you will feed them on that day. Failure to perform will make them sad which will in turn affect your family. To avoid such situation Gurunathar has suggested this alternative through me and by making the eldest sumangali wear the saree he has accepted and saved you from the sumangalis’ sadness affecting your family”. Since then we are doing it every year and Gurunathar keeps us protected and happy.

JAI SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI

OHM SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

GNANANANDA GNANANANDA SADGURU GNANANANDA

BHAKTHA JANA PRIYAN

This episode is told to me by some of the devotees who were present when Gurunathar’s leelai happened. If there are any factual errors kindly correct me, because i am writing this from my memory.

He was a retired Justice from High Court. He was a straight forward man interested in literature, indigenous medicine and Aanmeegam. One day he had a doubt.  As per Smiritis and Vedhas one must do Dhana Dharmas and follow the scriptures to reduce the sin he/she had sinned in their previous birth and Gurus can help them by showing the way to reduce sins which will ultimately result in Mukthi i.e. no rebirth. The retired Justice had a Guru in the form of Sadgurunathar and following his advise and leading a life of Dharma.  The doubt he had was which birth’s sin now he is reducing and how much more sins are to be erased before his death so that he won’t have a rebirth. He searched in books and tried to learn from scholors but nobody or no books can clarify his doubt. At last he decided to seek clarification from Gurunathar and came to Thapovanam with some of his friends.

There was some rush on the day he visited thapovanam and devotees were having dharshan of Gurunathar. The justice also had dharshan and was waiting to have an audience with Gurunathar so that he can seek clarification from Gurunathar himself. Gurunathar called the Justice and told him “ Naama prasadham eduthundu konjam oyveduppom” ( let us have lunch and have some rest). So Justice and his friends took their lunch at the Ashram itself and waited in the hall. The kitchen staff were instructed by Gurunathar to offer coffee frequently to the Justice as he likes to have more cups of coffee. Accordingly he was given coffee three or four times.

In the evening Gurunathar called the Justice and his friends to his room. Before the Justice could open his mouth, Gurunathar told him “ enna innikki niraiya thadavai Kashaayam (Gurunathar used to call coffee as Kashaayam) acha? Athunaala unga vella sattaila karai pattuduche” (Did you had coffee more number of times than usual? That is why your white shirt had been stained). Then only the Justice came to know about the stain in his white shirt. He said “ Yes Swami. I had three or four cups of coffee. The Gurunathar replied”Sari. Naama konjam paal edunthundu poi antha karai melae thadavuvom. Karai podium.  Thanni oothi alambina pinnaadi inge varuvom ( go and take a small quantity of milk and apply it on the stain which will remove it and after washing let us return here). The justice did as he was told and returned to Gurunathar’s chamber. Then Gurunathar asked him ” intha karai coffee unga sattaila pattathaala yerpattathu. Athu ethanavathu cup kudikkarappo yerpattathunnu solla mudiyuma” (The stain in your shirt happened because of the spilling of coffee which you had three or four times. Can you specify at which cup of coffee is responsible for that stain). The Justice was taken aback by this question and started thinking and at last replied “ sorry swami i could not say”. Then Gurunathar told him “ Naama sattaiya kazhuvindu vara solrappo ithu eppo ethanavthu cupla pattathunngarathai pathi ninaikkaama eppadi sutham seythomo athai pola naam entha jenmathu paavamgarathai pathi kavalai padaama inime pirappu vendamnu Easwaranai venuvom” (when i asked you to clean that stain you have not thought about when the stain happened but went on cleaning. Like that let us not worry about which sin we are reducing now and seek the blessings of the God for no rebirth). The friends of Justice could not hide their surprise and asked him how his Gurunathar know the reason for his coming without asking and to them the Justice replied that is my Gurunathar.

                JAI SADGURU NATH MAHARAJ KI JAI