Boyhood Days at Madurai - Suri Nagamma Letters

I have already written to you about my going to Tiruchuli (in 1945) when the Sarvadhikari started for that place to do repairs to the birth place of Bhagavan and how, on that occasion, several devotees, including a number of ladies, accompanied him and how, after my return, Bhagavan told me several incidents of his boyhood. At that time we had also seen the house in Madurai where Bhagavan had Self-realisation. When I told Bhagavan that an old lady by name Subbamma related some more incidents about his life there, he pressed me to tell him all about it.

I said, “She told me that she was living in the same street when Bhagavan ran away from his house in Madurai; that Bhagavan showed even then, by his conduct, glimpses of his feelings of equality with all human beings and that there were several incidents at the time to indicate it.”

“What are they?” asked Bhagavan.

I said, “It seems that there was not sufficient supply of water in the house in which Bhagavan lived and so water had to be brought from the opposite house; that sometimes Bhagavan used to help his aunt by bringing water and by doing several odds and ends of the household work.”

Bhagavan said, “Yes. Auntie could not lift any big vessel. The water she brought in a small vessel was at times found insufficient for the household. So I used to fetch water in a big vessel. So what?”

I said, “It seems that your mother felt a little annoyed when she heard of this and is reported to have remarked that her son was being made to carry heavy things. When she came to Madurai once, she too had to fetch water. She

could not lift the big vessel and requested Bhagavan to fetch water in the big vessel. While bringing it, Bhagavan is said to have remarked, ‘You found fault with auntie. What have you done now?’ Is that all true?”

Laughing, Bhagavan said, “Yes, yes. But what of it? There are municipal taps now. But in those days there was a lot of difficulty about water. The Vaigai River is at a long distance from Chokkanatha Street. It used to be very near to the house where we first stayed. When we were there, we used to bathe in the Vaigai River every day. As summer advanced, the water in the river would dry up. We then used to go there in the evenings and excavate enough sand in the riverbed so that a big vessel could be dipped into it. Subsequently we played about in the sands. By the time we finished our games, the sand ditch would be filled with water. We would bathe in that water and return home. The ditches that we excavated every day were very useful for other people also.”

I said, “It seems even the playthings of Mahatmas serve as useful things for others.”

Bhagavan said, “That’s all right. But tell me, you have gone to the temple of Varadaraja Perumal, haven’t you? You must have noticed that there are three parapet walls for each of the three storeys. Very often, all of us boys used to go to the third storey and play hide-and-seek and other games. A big tank could be seen from the window of the third storey. We used to go to that tank off and on and have competitions in swimming. I invariably used to win in the competitions. That tank is on the way leading to Tirupparankundram.”

I said, “I read in Ramana Leela about a feast that Bhagavan had with other boys in Tirupparankundram. It was however not possible for us to go there.”

Bhagavan said, “That is on the way to Tiruchuli. Only you have to take a little diversion. There are similar places

around Madurai like Pasumalai, Nagamalai, Enugamalai and several others. We used to go there sometimes. Their greatness could be found in Halasyamahatmyam.”

I asked, “Is it a fact that you were going to Alagar Koil also?”

Bhagavan replied, “Yes, yes. That is about twelve miles from Madurai. The temple is a very big one. There, everyday Sarkarai Pongal is offered twice to the Lord. It was excellent. Once when I went there I was given a little of it along with others. I wished I could have more of it. I felt, however, shy to ask for more. So I kept quiet. You know what happened when I went there another time? The children of one of the archakas were going home for the holidays. I accompanied them and stayed with them for a whole day. On that day, it was their turn for archana. Their house was about two furlongs from the temple. After the night puja was over they got a big plateful of pongal as their share. On seeing me, they felt that I was a sturdy fellow and could easily carry it and so they put the plate on my head and went ahead chitchatting amongst themselves. You know how heavy it was! All the muscles of my neck began to ache. It was night time. It was also dark. The plate must not fall down because it contained God’s prasadam. What could I do? I felt that it was a punishment for my wanting to have some more pongal when I came last, and so I somehow carried it until I reached the house.”

I said, “Did not any one of them offer to carry it for a little distance?”

Bhagavan replied, “No. They were walking and were completely absorbed in their discussions about some of their own affairs. How would they think about me?”

I said, “Perhaps, Bhagavan did not say that it was heavy and he could not carry it?”

Bhagavan remarked, “How could I do that? It was preordained that I should carry it and so I carried it. Subsequently, they gave me a big lump of the pongal on a leaf. When I ate some of it, I got a feeling of aversion to it. It was however prasadam, and as it could not be thrown away, I somehow managed to eat it. None of the others touched it even. They gave it away to the servant next morning. It is the same with everything. If there is ample supply, no one wants it.”

I remarked, “So Bhagavan carried the plate with the same feelings as Jada Bharata* had when he carried the palanquin.”

Bhagavan said, “What of that? They merely felt that I was robust and could easily carry it. What else did they know?” So saying, he changed the topic and began telling us about wrestling bouts, playing with balls and other boyhood games. All those things have been mentioned in Ramana Leela.