Vaikuntavasar
Vaikuntavasar worked up his way to be Sri Ramana's attendant in 1940. Later he also was a member of the Board of Trustees of Sri Ramanasramam. The following article written by him entitled, 'Bhagavan the Way' appeared in the April, 1977 issue of The Mountain Path.
"Out of thousands, perhaps one strives for
Perfection; out of those who strive, perhaps one
knows Me as I AM" BHAGAVAD GITA, Ch. VII. v. 3
Many are called but few are chosen; many more are not even called! Mumukshutwa (the seeking) is a rare trait and God's grace is needed for one to become a seeker. One does not become a seeker simply by giving up attachment. The great Maharashtrian saint, Eknath, a great scholar himself, had to do seva (service) to his guru, Janardana Swami, for not less than forty years! The seva included all household jobs like washing, cleaning, fetching water and there was actually no spiritual teaching as such. Our tradition enjoins twelve years of service to the guru.
I was fully aware of what was in store for me when I went to Bhagavan. To become a chela I must do seva to Him. My whole mind was centered on this single thought. It was only in 1940 that I came to Arunachala. Actually, I ran away from my house just eight days before my marriage was to take place.
As there were enough sadhus to serve the Maharshi and I did not want to be rejected, I refrained from approaching the Sarvadhikari, Niranjanananda Swami.
I went to Palakothu where I befriended Somasundara Swami. I volunteered to sit and watch the dry fruits, nuts, and other things exposed to sunlight. I did it with a plan. I knew Bhagavan was coming to Palakothu every afternoon. I spread the fruits very near where Bhagavan was passing by. I was thrilled to see Him notice my sitting there. With one-pointed care, I attended to this apparently simple work.
Readiness to sacrifice personal comforts for a higher cause never goes unrewarded!
Bhagavan is an embodiment of compassion and tender affection. The opportune moment I was waiting for at last arrived. Thanks to my utter dedication to this task, I was introduced to the Sarvadhikari, with the useful recommendatory words that I was a sincere man devoid of family ties and perfectly dedicated to whatever work might be entrusted to me. This was put to test by him by assigning to me varied types of work, which included supervising the construction of the present hospital building, purchase of bulls and cows, rice, dal, firewood, etc. Whatever the job, I used to report everything to Bhagavan before undertaking it and after completing it. Every job was a success. What else could it be when His attention had been drawn to it.
Bhagavan particularly bestowed his special grace on those who undertook service of the Asramam. Not only on me but on Ramaswami Pillai, who was then going on cycle to town many times daily on Asramam work. Bhagavan used to tell him what had taken place during his absence.
Pleased with my work, the Sarvadhikari posted me in the Hall to attend on Bhagavan. It so happened that the chief attendant, so to say, Madhava Swami, had then left the Asramam. This responsible duty, for which I had been longing all the time, devolved on me by His grace.
Before becoming an attendant of Bhagavan I had talked to Him only once, soon after my arrival. One day I approached Bhagavan on the Hillside when He was alone, placed some fruits at His feet, prostrated myself before Him, and asked Him: "How is the mind to be subdued?" Bhagavan graciously replied, "Look within where the mind is."
After that there was, no need for me to, think of anything else. Bhagavan was God for me.
Everything I did was done with care and dedication. For instance, I used to devote considerable time to wash the only two pieces of cloth Bhagavan had (loin cloth and a small towel), rinsing them many times in water, changing the water every time. I wanted the clothes to be spotlessly clean.
Massaging His feet was another duty I welcomed. How fortunate I was! I did see, touch, talk, and live with Him. Bhagavan's rheumatism gave me an opportunity to massage His feet and legs.
Whenever I felt Bhagavan needed massaging I did not hesitate to do so, even when there were people around. Bhagavan not even once objected to my doing so, even though I had heard that Bhagavan had not permitted some others to do so.
Once I was sleeping in front of His Hall on bare ground. Bhagavan noticed it and asked me that night: "Why do you sleep on the floor?"
His sympathetic words were an elixir to me. True, I had not thought of clothes or comforts. Yet, the very next morning, Krishnaswami, another attendant, of his own accord, bought for me a long yellow bedsheet, though he had not heard of Bhagavan's inquiry the previous night.
Bhagavan often gave me tasks that others might not like. I give two instances. On great occasions like Jayanti, Bhagavan would ask me: "Have you attended to the 'boys' (monkeys)?" I used to take plenty of food and spread it on the rocks. After some time all the monkeys would keep quiet, lying down, content, and Bhagavan would remark; "Look now, how good they all have become do they do any mischief now?" What compassion and love!
On another occasion, when all the inmates of the Asramam were at Skandasramam together with Bhagavan, a grown-up Veda Pathasala boy, stung by some insect, vomited and swooned. Bhagavan looked at me. I understood. I carried the boy, who was almost my height and walked down towards the Asramam. The boy was vomiting profusely. I attended to the boy, gave him first aid, and then took my bath and returned to Skandasramam. The moment I stepped in, Bhagavan looked at me and inquired: "Is the boy all right?"
Though I had been rendering personal service to Bhagavan I often felt I had not done enough. So I used to take a broom and sweep the whole path up the Hill, where Bhagavan walked twice daily.
To illustrate Bhagavan's sense of humor, I relate one incident: Once there was a snake below my pillow; and as usual, I went and reported it to Bhagavan immediately. Bhagavan laughingly remarked: "Oh, it is quite all right. What else can make a better bed for you?" (Vaikuntavasar is one of the Names of Lord Vishnu, whose bed is the huge snake, Adisesha).
I shall conclude this account with a very thrilling experience:
It was round about nine one night, when Bhagavan walked towards the Hill, a little beyond the Asramam boundary. I went along with him. There was a sand bed between Bhagavan and me who had gone further up in order to ease himself. Then I heard the sound of wooden sandals moving nearer and nearer towards us and passing on.
There was no one to be seen, despite the sound made by the wooden sandals. I was awestruck. I had heard from Bhagavan about the Siddhas living on Arunachala. I began to sweat. When Bhagavan came near me, he looked at me and said: "So, you too heard it."
"Out of thousands, perhaps one strives for
Perfection; out of those who strive, perhaps one
knows Me as I AM" BHAGAVAD GITA, Ch. VII. v. 3
Many are called but few are chosen; many more are not even called! Mumukshutwa (the seeking) is a rare trait and God's grace is needed for one to become a seeker. One does not become a seeker simply by giving up attachment. The great Maharashtrian saint, Eknath, a great scholar himself, had to do seva (service) to his guru, Janardana Swami, for not less than forty years! The seva included all household jobs like washing, cleaning, fetching water and there was actually no spiritual teaching as such. Our tradition enjoins twelve years of service to the guru.
I was fully aware of what was in store for me when I went to Bhagavan. To become a chela I must do seva to Him. My whole mind was centered on this single thought. It was only in 1940 that I came to Arunachala. Actually, I ran away from my house just eight days before my marriage was to take place.
As there were enough sadhus to serve the Maharshi and I did not want to be rejected, I refrained from approaching the Sarvadhikari, Niranjanananda Swami.
I went to Palakothu where I befriended Somasundara Swami. I volunteered to sit and watch the dry fruits, nuts, and other things exposed to sunlight. I did it with a plan. I knew Bhagavan was coming to Palakothu every afternoon. I spread the fruits very near where Bhagavan was passing by. I was thrilled to see Him notice my sitting there. With one-pointed care, I attended to this apparently simple work.
Readiness to sacrifice personal comforts for a higher cause never goes unrewarded!
Bhagavan is an embodiment of compassion and tender affection. The opportune moment I was waiting for at last arrived. Thanks to my utter dedication to this task, I was introduced to the Sarvadhikari, with the useful recommendatory words that I was a sincere man devoid of family ties and perfectly dedicated to whatever work might be entrusted to me. This was put to test by him by assigning to me varied types of work, which included supervising the construction of the present hospital building, purchase of bulls and cows, rice, dal, firewood, etc. Whatever the job, I used to report everything to Bhagavan before undertaking it and after completing it. Every job was a success. What else could it be when His attention had been drawn to it.
Bhagavan particularly bestowed his special grace on those who undertook service of the Asramam. Not only on me but on Ramaswami Pillai, who was then going on cycle to town many times daily on Asramam work. Bhagavan used to tell him what had taken place during his absence.
Pleased with my work, the Sarvadhikari posted me in the Hall to attend on Bhagavan. It so happened that the chief attendant, so to say, Madhava Swami, had then left the Asramam. This responsible duty, for which I had been longing all the time, devolved on me by His grace.
Before becoming an attendant of Bhagavan I had talked to Him only once, soon after my arrival. One day I approached Bhagavan on the Hillside when He was alone, placed some fruits at His feet, prostrated myself before Him, and asked Him: "How is the mind to be subdued?" Bhagavan graciously replied, "Look within where the mind is."
After that there was, no need for me to, think of anything else. Bhagavan was God for me.
Everything I did was done with care and dedication. For instance, I used to devote considerable time to wash the only two pieces of cloth Bhagavan had (loin cloth and a small towel), rinsing them many times in water, changing the water every time. I wanted the clothes to be spotlessly clean.
Massaging His feet was another duty I welcomed. How fortunate I was! I did see, touch, talk, and live with Him. Bhagavan's rheumatism gave me an opportunity to massage His feet and legs.
Whenever I felt Bhagavan needed massaging I did not hesitate to do so, even when there were people around. Bhagavan not even once objected to my doing so, even though I had heard that Bhagavan had not permitted some others to do so.
Once I was sleeping in front of His Hall on bare ground. Bhagavan noticed it and asked me that night: "Why do you sleep on the floor?"
His sympathetic words were an elixir to me. True, I had not thought of clothes or comforts. Yet, the very next morning, Krishnaswami, another attendant, of his own accord, bought for me a long yellow bedsheet, though he had not heard of Bhagavan's inquiry the previous night.
Bhagavan often gave me tasks that others might not like. I give two instances. On great occasions like Jayanti, Bhagavan would ask me: "Have you attended to the 'boys' (monkeys)?" I used to take plenty of food and spread it on the rocks. After some time all the monkeys would keep quiet, lying down, content, and Bhagavan would remark; "Look now, how good they all have become do they do any mischief now?" What compassion and love!
On another occasion, when all the inmates of the Asramam were at Skandasramam together with Bhagavan, a grown-up Veda Pathasala boy, stung by some insect, vomited and swooned. Bhagavan looked at me. I understood. I carried the boy, who was almost my height and walked down towards the Asramam. The boy was vomiting profusely. I attended to the boy, gave him first aid, and then took my bath and returned to Skandasramam. The moment I stepped in, Bhagavan looked at me and inquired: "Is the boy all right?"
Though I had been rendering personal service to Bhagavan I often felt I had not done enough. So I used to take a broom and sweep the whole path up the Hill, where Bhagavan walked twice daily.
To illustrate Bhagavan's sense of humor, I relate one incident: Once there was a snake below my pillow; and as usual, I went and reported it to Bhagavan immediately. Bhagavan laughingly remarked: "Oh, it is quite all right. What else can make a better bed for you?" (Vaikuntavasar is one of the Names of Lord Vishnu, whose bed is the huge snake, Adisesha).
I shall conclude this account with a very thrilling experience:
It was round about nine one night, when Bhagavan walked towards the Hill, a little beyond the Asramam boundary. I went along with him. There was a sand bed between Bhagavan and me who had gone further up in order to ease himself. Then I heard the sound of wooden sandals moving nearer and nearer towards us and passing on.
There was no one to be seen, despite the sound made by the wooden sandals. I was awestruck. I had heard from Bhagavan about the Siddhas living on Arunachala. I began to sweat. When Bhagavan came near me, he looked at me and said: "So, you too heard it."
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