Compassion and Consideration of Bhagavan

 *1. Moments Remembered by Sri V. Ganesan* 

Sri. V. Ganesan was born as the second son of T.N. Venkataraman on Ganesh Chaturthi day in 1936. He was fortunate to be named by Sri Ramana Maharshi as 'Ganesan'. He grew up in the presence and proximity of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi up to the age of 14 years. 

As a baby, Ganesan repeatedly attempted to get Bhagavan's attention and was blessed with obtaining the touch of the Master's feet. Ganesan after completing his post-graduation in philosophy in 1960, worked for a short period in the Bombay office of the Indian Express as Assistant Editor. He resigned his job to help his father, Sri T.N. Venkataraman, then president of Ramanasramam in Ashram administration. He has compiled the book of anecdotes, 'The Moments Remembered.' 

 *1. Sri P. R. Nagasundaram Iyer* 

Sri P. R. Nagasundaram Iyer of Karaikudi was entrusted with the duty of bringing cooks from the South on special occasions at the Ashram, like Jayanti and Mahapuja. He would work along with them so intimately that even a permanent resident like A. Devaraja Mudaliar took him to be the head-cook! 

On one such Jayanti after having worked all night, Nagasundaram Iyer, utterly exhausted, with his usual short towel around his waist, stretched himself near the kitchen under the open sky without any bedding or covering. Being December it was quite cold. 

Bhagavan who got up very early in the morning (2 or 3 a.m.) noticed Nagasundaram Iyer sprawled there uncovered. Full of compassion, Bhagavan stopped near him and asked an attendant to go and bring His own woollen shawl and covered Nagasundaram Iyer with it, saying. "Poor Nagasundaram, having worked all day and night, is totally exhausted and doesn't even notice the heavy dew!" 

 *2. A Devotee from North India* 

A devotee from north India, M. who stayed here for a few years in the later forties, was in the money-lending business. He was a staunch devotee of Bhagavan, but his activities were disliked by almost everyone in and around the Ashram. 

Devotee M. lost all his money, his only daughter became widow and she came over here to stay with him, adding to his burden. M. was totally shattered; still he continued to stay in the vicinity of the Ashram. 

One day, in April, 1950, he stood in the queue to have darshan of Sri Bhagavan who was then very ill. Devotees were strictly prevented from talking to Bhagavan, much less to hand over things to Him. 

M. stood in front of Sri Bhagavan and dropped a piece of paper at His feet and moved away. Bhagavan read it and kept it under His pillow. 

After some time, an attendant came to fetch M. Others felt that it was to reprimand M. for having transgressed the rules. However, he was taken straight to Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan looked at M. with intense grace for sometime and nodded His head to express approval. 

On the paper M. had written: "Bhagavan, save me"! 

*3. Sri Kunjuswami's Reminiscences* 

Bhagavan was always very considerate towards his devotees in all matters. It was the practice of Bhagavan's devotees to take his permission before proceeding to circumambulate the Hill and to prostrate before him on their return. 

Many came to the Ashram all the way from the town for this purpose even late in the evening and then proceeded immediately to their homes in the town. Bhagavan advised such devotees to break their circumambulation in town in the evening and to complete it on the following day when they came to the Ashram as usual. 

When women devotees were ready to return to town at dusk he would always make certain that none of them went alone. If any of them found no company, he would ask someone to go with them and leave them at their house. 

There were some devotees employed in Madras who used to come every weekend to Tiruvannamalai and return to Madras in time to go to their offices on Monday morning. 

Sometimes some of them were so reluctant to part from Bhagavan that they continued to overstay their time. They would go as far as the railway station only to return to the Ashram on some pretext or other. 

Bhagavan, therefore, in such cases used to send someone with them to the railway station to see that they actually got into the train and left for Madras. He did not like that anyone should neglect his duties! 

When a devotee came late in the evening after everyone had taken his meal and gone to bed he was not allowed to go hungry on this account. Bhagavan always saw to it that some food was kept for such late-comers and that they had their meals. When such a visitor arrived Bhagavan simply looked at some of us. That was enough for us to take him to the dining hall and give him his meal! Bhagavan never started to eat before all those who were present were served. 

The beggars waiting at the gate are even now given their food before inmates and visitors are served. No exception is made to this rule even on crowded occasions like the Jayanti and the Aradhana. All these instances will show how considerate Bhagavan was to others!

 *4. Letters from Sri Ramanasramam by Smt Suri Nagamma* 

During the last two or three months, Bhagavan's personal attendants have been massaging his legs with some medicated oil to relieve the rheumatic pain. 

Some of the devotees, zealous in attention to Bhagavan's body, also began massaging by turn every half an hour, and this resulted in upsetting the usual Ashram routine. Would Bhagavan tolerate all this? 

Bhagavan was always considerate even to his personal attendants and would never say emphatically "No" to anything; so he said in a casual way, "All of you please wait for a while, I will also massage these legs a little. Should I too not have some of the punyam (merit)?" 

So saying, he removed their hands and began massaging his own legs. Not only was I (Nagamma) very much amused at this but what little desire might have still been lurking in me to touch Sri Bhagavan's lotus feet and thus perform pranam (salutation) was completely obliterated. 

Bhagavan's words have a peculiar charm of their own! Look! He too wants a little of the punyam! What a delicate hint to those who have the intelligence to take it!