Smt Subbalakshmi 1924



 *1. Smt Subbalakshmi, Bhagavan Assured her not to Worry* 

Smt. Subbalakshmi is the Wife of Dr. M.R. Krishnamurthi Iyer. He was the first doctor of the Ashram dispensary, which was started in 1929.

Smt Subbalakshmi Reminisces :
My husband, Dr. Krishnamurthi, the first Ashram doctor, met Bhagavan in 1924. During one of the Deepam festivals he introduced me to Bhagavan Ramana. In the early days of my married life, while living in Tiruvannamalai, my husband (who worked in a hospital) would often run away to Bhagavan, leaving me all alone. He never thought about the children or me. 

One day, I was terribly afraid that my husband might become a sadhu. The next night Bhagavan appeared in my dream and assured me, "Have no fear; your husband knows where his duties lie. Give up all worries." I told the dream I had to my husband, he inturn when he narrated the dream I had to Bhagavan, he gave a gracious smile! 

One day all of a sudden, I became extremely ĺunwell. Neighbours and friends felt that I was nearing my end. At that time my husband was at the Ashram. When the message was sent to the Ashram about my condition, Bhagavan, who was reading the newspaper at that time, went into a trance for some time. Simultaneously, I became normal. This was nothing short of a miracle. 

Later, when I met Bhagavan, he mischievously told me, "It seems it is a new life for you." 

Once Bhagavan was narrating the life of the saint Siruthondar Naayanaar. His voice was choked with emotion and tears kept trickling from his eyes. No doubt he was a jnani par excellence but what a soft heart he had!

Bhagavan used to refer to my husband as the 'town doctor'. He enquired about him even on his mahanirvana day. 

I could not get Bhagavan's darshan on that day because of the long queue. Bhagavan, however, graciously appeared to me in a dream and said, "Amma, how long should I bear the body? Death is natural to it. It is like a leaf on which the food has been eaten. It has to be thrown away."

----- Face to Face with Ramana Maharshi 

*2. Dr. Krishnamurthi Iyer - Bhagavan told him in dream medicine for hiccups* 

Dr. Krishnamurthi Iyer reminisces:
In the later 1930s, continuous hiccups gripped Sri Bhagavan. I was treating him. Days passed and I had tried all the medicines known to the profession; all in vain. I got thoroughly upset. I spoke no words to Him, but standing in His presence, I prayed mentally that Bhagavan himself should show me a way to cure Him. 

I returned home grief-stricken and cried and cried like a child till I fell asleep. In the early hours of the morning, Sri Bhagavan appeared in my dream and asked, "Why are you crying?" 

I replied sobbing, "Bhagavan, you know why. I don't know how to save you from hiccups. What am I to do?" 

Sri Bhagavan consoled me saying, "Don't cry. In the courtyard of your house there is a plant of Seenhikodi. Pluck some leaves from it, fry them in ghee and then pound them along with dried ginger and jaggery, make balls of it and bring them to me. Don't worry!" 

I woke up delighted. My wife and I went out with a hurricane lamp and searched for the herb in the courtyard. Except for a small strip, the courtyard was plastered in cement. In the small strip many bushes had grown. 

There among them, we did find the herb; prepared the medicine and almost ran to the Ashram. As we entered the hall very early in the morning, we found Sri Bhagavan on His couch. With a smiling face, He greeted us and extended His hand with these words: "Give me what you have brought!" 

Sri Bhagavan swallowed a part of the medicine.When I spoke to Him about the dream He looked innocent as if He knew nothing about it! Needless to say, the hiccups stopped as expected and He was restored to normal health. 

---- Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi


*3. Reminiscences of Rajampalyam Ramani Ammal* 

Ramani Ammal came from a family of wealthy landlords in Rajapalayam. After reading 'Sri Ramana Vijayam', the Tamil biography of Bhagavan, she completely surrendered to Bhagavan Ramana. She knew she has reached the end of her quest. 

Ramani Ammal reminisces some of the incidents she had :
I used to fast a lot in those days – almosti fifteen days in a month. It was helping my sadhana. 

One day, with the permission of Chinna Swami, I stayed in the Ashram till suppertime. Bhagavan turned to me and said, 'Aren't you coming for supper?' Then he said, 'Sattvic food should be eaten. There is no meaning in mere fasting.' Since then I stopped fasting. Even if I wanted to fast, for some reason or other the fast would be broken. That is a real wonder to me. 

Once while I was seated in front of Bhagavan, in the old hall, slices of some fruit were brought by a devotee and placed before Bhagavan. A monkey walked in. Though the attendant was not very keen on obliging the monkey, upon Bhagavan's behest he gave him a piece. Receiving it the monkey bounded away, but another soon came in, evidently informed by the former. A piece was given to him, and he soon went away. A third one came for his share! Bhagavan gave him a piece, saying: 'All right! Now don't go and inform any others, or else these people here will be angry with me!' 

This fellow left with his share and obviously followed Bhagavan's adesa (command). No monkey came to ask fruit.

Sometime in 1949, I was staying in the Mango-tree Cave, with an old lady devotee. One night, while in the cave I heard the clatter of footsteps (as if many people were walking with wooden sandals on). Surprisingly enough, I was not afraid but had a great desire to go out and see them. 

Next morning I requested the elderly devotee to mention this to Sri Bhagavan. Bhagavan said that they were siddhas and rishis residing in Arunachala, doing tapas. 

----- Arunachala Ramana 
 Eternal Ocean of Grace 

 Om Namo Bhagavate* 
 *Sri Ramanaya

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