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