Shirdi Sai Baba at Arunachala

Up until 2008 there were no Shrines dedicated to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba here at Arunachala. Subsequently in 2014 we now have a Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine on the girivalam roadway near Adi Annamalai, a Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine close to the Hanuman Temple on the girivalam roadway and a bhajan hall dedicated to Sai Baba near the Durga Amman Temple in town.

The below photograph (which dates from 2008) is of a crate with a statue of Sai Baba inside, marking the place near Adi Annamalai that has now become a Temple dedicated to his name. 

To read more about the development of the Temple go to this link here.

Crate on land in 2008

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba at what will become a Shrine and his new home

2014 Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine at the same spot

Inside the Shrine

Perpetual flame from Shirdi alight in the Shrine's Dhuni

Pepetual flame from Shirdi

Development adjacent to Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine, girivalam roadway

In the above photograph, taken a few days ago, one can see the development of facilities connected to the Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine currently underway. It does seems a pity that the facility is being built so close to the Shrine. 

Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine, girivalam roadway near Hanuman Temple

Bhajan Hall near Durga Amman Temple, Tiruvannamalai

COMPLETE SURRENDER TO SHRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI 

[Stories from Shri Sai Satcharitha by Hemad Pant]

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi stressed the importance of complete surrender to Him to many of His devotees during His life in the flesh in the Dwarakamayi masjid. He said that he who remembers Him always, meditates upon Him all the time with love and devotion, he will soon see Him and merge with Him. To the devotee surrendering himself completely to Him, Sai Baba said that He was indebted to him and will repay his debt by giving him salvation (i.e., self-realization). 

Sai Baba further said, a devotee worshipping Him this way, becomes one with Sai - just as a river gets to the sea and merges with it. Sai urges devotees to leave out pride and egoism and then surrender themselves to Him, always remembering that Sai is not all far off and is in fact seated in our very hearts! Moreover, if we practice surrender with the feeling that Sai Baba is all-pervading (everywhere, in every creature, and in immovable objects as well), we will attain oneness with Him for sure. 

Hemad Pant advises us that to take refuge in Sai's feet with the feeling that the Self and Guru are one and the same and this will help us realize goals and remove difficulties quickly. Sai Baba assures us: "If you always say "SAI SAI", I shall take you over the seven seas. I do not need any paraphernalia of worships...I rest there, where there is full devotion." 

A few real-life incidents of total surrender by Baba's devotees to Baba's feet are discussed below. 

1. Bhimaji Patel of Narayangaon, Poona District, came to Shirdi in 1909 with serious chest diseases and tuberculosis having lost hope of any cure. He surrendered to Baba's feet crying out in despair. Baba was moved by his tears, blessed him and then cured him by means of two dreams. Through these dreams, he made Bhimaji experience the exact suffering required for removing the previous Karma that resulted in this disease. Bhimaji's sincere surrender to Baba showed all that Baba came to devotees' rescue, and expected nothing from His devotees except remembrance of His Name, unswerving faith and devotion. 

2. Dr. Pillai, who suffered from severe thirst and Cholera requested Baba for a remedy. Doctors would have said that the remedy prescribed by Baba would have aggravated this particular disease (and would have said no) - but this was given with Baba's grace and the devotee's faith, surrender and hence cured Dr. Pillai's disease! There are many more several real-life incidents of how diseases were cured by unusual remedies prescribed by Baba. There are also cases where Baba's mere words of grace removed virulent diseases including poisonous snake bites without any medicines at all! In all these cases, the absolute surrender by the devotees and total faith in Baba's words contributed to the speedy recovery. 

3. In one example, Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) tried a medicine given once by Baba without consulting Baba at all - thinking that it worked once and so it will work again! But in fact the remedy made the disease worse and so he realized his mistake and surrendered to Baba again and got cured by His grace. Thus it was the attitude of complete surrender that made the real difference here. 

4. Ratanji Wadia of Nanded, a kind-hearted rich businessman pleaded to Gods for years to bless him with a child but it was not happening. On guidance from Das Ganu Maharaj, he surrendered to Shri Sai Baba at Shirdi. Sai tested his true faith and blessed him with his heart's desire with several children! 

Sai Baba assured us that even after MahaSamadhi: "Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves whole-heartedly to me". Nishtha (Faith) and Saburi (patience) according to Baba are twin sisters. Baba expected only the above two qualities from devotees. Total surrender to Baba means that our very breath and activities in day-to-day life should be intertwined with Sai Baba in our breath along with Nishtha and Saburi as our very eyes guiding us. Only such complete surrender to Baba will get Baba's response quicker. 

Today's fusion of all cultures and technology-driven fast lives, we are more and more dependent on machines, servants, and external factors so much and so a significant portion of our commitments are left to the hands of forces outside our control unfortunately. Thus total surrender has become more difficult to us these days than in the simpler olden days. The solution lies in practicing seeing Sai in all these machines and helpers and trying hard to make our lives as simple as possible and by surrendering all outcomes to Sai who is "The wire-puller of the show of the universe" as He remarked. 

[Submitted by Bharathkumar K. 

With reference to Shri Sai Satcharitha] 

A Meeting with Mookupodi Swamiyar

A reader of this blog has submitted the below narrative describing his own meeting and experience with Mokkupodi Samiyar. There is now a Facebook page dedicated to this siddhar at this link here.

"For the benefit of devotees, I wish to record the following events"

Basically I am a human with all sorts of desires, but struggling to gain inner peace. In that process – almost for the past twenty years, I read many books and followed the advices of many saints. In my pursuit of inner happiness, unfortunately, I could not have any living saints as my Guru. Further, the earthly things would also not allow me to proceed in my pursuit continuously. In short, I am an average human being, but have the desire to seek Atma or sprit. Another problem is that I always question things and won’t accept anything unless proven. May be, that’s why Children and innocent people always have good faith and chosen by God (as Jesus said those who believe in Father without seeing are blessed). 

Three years back, on seeing my quest, one of my friends introduced the name of Sri Ramana Maharishi of Tiruvannamalai and gave two volumes of Ramana Vazhi (The Path of Ramana by Sadhu Ohm). Those books and initial visit to Ramanashram wiped out most of my doubts (If I have any little more, it is purely due to my ignorance). Sri Ramana simply said to look inner and there is no other magic way to see God. 

So far, I took Girivalam about twelve times or more and I always choose a date other than full moon to avoid rush. I had many interesting events to narrate my experiences (or encounters) with GOD. But the following one, I wish to share the most. 

Mokkupodi Swami

On 07.09.2014, by 06.45 Hrs, I started my Girivalam and after paying respect to Sheshadri Swamigal (first time) I proceeded further with a silent prayer of AUM (as taught in the Isha Centre). About 08.00 Hrs (after 6th Km), while passing the Ner Annamalai Temple, I saw 15-20 people were either politely standing with folded hands or sitting on the floor near Navagragha area or lying down (Shastanga Namaskaram) seeking the blessings of someone whom I could not view because of a pillar. 

As it drew my attention, I stopped and returned few steps back to the see the incidents. Watching from the platform across the road, I had a view of a thin hand giving some signs and one umbrella stick projecting from someone’s lap. I also saw a person standing nearby (he actually talked over mobile communicating as “athu ingathan irukku”- meaning that is here). 

Curiosity overwhelmed, I asked the person “what is happening here?” 

He replied “It is Mokkupodi Samiyar. Everyone seeks Its dharshan. Sometimes It uses to scare people with stick. Even one VIP took It to her house for three days for getting ashirwad. It wandered around the hill for almost thirty years. It would not speak to anyone. Forest people moved It from the Arunachala Hill. Now It is staying in a nearby school and often comes out”. 

I was wondering whether it is publicity stunt by some beggar. Then suddenly that person stood up and rushed to beat a person (he was holding a baby on his shoulder and seeking his blessings). Everyone run off. It walked back to the temple wielding the stick vigorously. 

Another person standing nearby said it is his kind punishment to ward of past evil doings. I could not laugh because of the humbleness shown by the people. Though run away, people started to follow It wherever It goes. After two minutes, It retuned back to the pillar and sat down. 

Now acting upon my sixth sense, I prayed to God and Ramana – If that is really a saint or siddhar, then I could possibly communicate in spirit or telepathy. So I crossed the road, and from about 40 feet distance (to avoid any beating) watched Its side posture. Till this time, I did not see Its face. I kept my heart calm and didn’t think of anything. I didn’t offer any prayer to that. In fact I wanted as this my spiritual test and thought that if It is an enlightened person, It would give me a dharshan. 

After 2-4 minutes, It slowly turned and gave a sign (hand sign shooing away). I suspected whether it is for me or I have to go away. So I continued to stand there itself. Suddenly, It stood up again and moved away from me to the Temple side. Abruptly It stopped and turned back. It saw people around in a half circular movement of its head (180 degree). Then It directly looked at me. Though there were people (on sideways), that look was directed to me. I could not believe myself. The distance was now about 50-60 feet, I was on Its direct vision line and no one stood in between. May be somebody was standing behind me and probably It could have watched him – was my thought. 

Slowly, It lifted its right hand and kept above his eyes as if seeing or identifying someone in distance standing in sunlight. 

Now I could experience that all the people were looking at me. It is a direct Dharshan. But foolishly, I was inactive. I could not bow my head or pranam as I tried to keep my mind silent. Then It moved towards me. Suddenly I feared that I have to move to avoid any beating. My eyes were moved with him. It halted five feet away from my left side and turned Its head and looked at me. It gave hand sign of waving or go away. Then It walked further without turning back. A woman with a son followed It. 

The person earlier answered me came and said that It blessed you. I asked for meaning of the hand sign. He replied that It indicates that there is no problem in your life and not that telling you to go away. 

Moved by Heart, I also followed It for about half a kilometre. I wanted to offer my pranam and wanted to touch Its Feet. But It went straight into a school without turning back. Standing opposite to the school gate, I watched him till It moved away from my sight. 

On my return to Trichy, I browsed google and came to know about this enlightened Mahan. I called him as It – as he was initially introduced to me like that. I am happy that I had the dharshan and blessings of a Siddhar. But I also worried about the way he leads his life. While the so called saints and pseudo-enlightened people are moving in luxury cars and have all comforts, a real saint (you should watch his thejas - glowing face and powerful eyes in You Tube released by one Shri Megaraj). May be penance requires no comfort. 

Now I grieve that I should have behaved well in front of MPS. But by recording this, I could compensate in a way so that someone may notice it or write it – in the way people now remembers Shridi Sai." 

[By J. Ilango Jayaraman]

Swami Vellaiyananda--Life and Tales

The below narrative is a short biography of a Yogi, Swami Vellaiyananda who hailed and lived in Karumarapatti Village, located around 20 miles from Tiruvannamalai. The sadhana he was engaged in throughout his life was believed to have given him certain powers and siddhis. Many villagers would visit Swami regularly, such was their faith in him. Although he was little publicized, those who were meant to meet him, did; and he was visited by many both Indian and Westerners who needed his help and guidance.

Life of Swami Vellaiyananda

Of the pancha bootha sthalams, Arunachala is the foremost. It is the place where Lord Shiva appeared as a tower of fire and it gives freedom (mukti) to devotees who just think of it. 20 kilometres northeast of Tiruvannamalai and 3 kilometres from Mangalam Village, is the farming village of Karumarapatti.

It is at this village that Swami Vellaiyananda was born on August 17th, 1927 as third child of Chinna Thambi and Kulla Ammalaiyar. He was known at that time as Vellayan. Villagers were later to know him as Karumarapatti Swami and SrilaSri Vellaiyananda Swamigal.

From the age of seven he performed morning puja at the local Krishna Temple thereupon he sat facing the southwest towards Arunachala, to do his prayers and meditation. When he was young he used to play with boys of his own age. The boys recognising a force in the young boy, were attracted to Vellayan and obeyed him. Together they would perform bhajans at the Ganesha Temple in the village and their leader would tell miraculous stories about God.

He finished school at an early age and living in his village focussed on his agricultural work and performing pujas to his chosen Gods. His concentration was on devotional worship and he exhibited little interest in family activities. Vellayan was a devotee of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and often visited Tiruvannamalai and Tirupathi. He would say that his heart was full of love for Shiva and Vishnu and that he was not interested in any other God.

In 1956 Vellayan at 30 years of age married his uncle’s daughter a 15 year old girl by the name of Amirtammal. After two years they had a son named Raghunathan.

Kuppan Gowantar who was 15 years senior to Vellayan and a devotee of Pondi Swamigal, tried several times to bring Vellayan to the ashram of Pondi Swami, but a meeting was not allowed to happen at that time. But one day when Vellayan was working in his fields, he had a vision of a man, he asked whether the person was his friend Kuppan Gowantar’s Guru, Pondi Swami. The man said yes and asked Vellayan to visit him. Without a moment’s delay, Vellayan travelled to Tiruvannamalai and performed girivalam to seek permission and blessings from Lord Annamalaiyar to allow him to visit Pondi Swami.

Thereupon he travelled to the saint’s village. Even though there was a large crowd surrounding Pondi Swami, the famed saint called the young Vellayan and his wife to him. Pondi Swamigal gave prasad to Vellayan’s wife in the form of betel leaf, fruit, coconut, flowers and jaggery. He then put vibhutti on both of them and told Vellayan that he would make great spiritual advancement.

During time of Swami's intense sadhana

As a result of the meeting with the great saint Pondi Swamigal, Vellayan’s spiritual yearning grew and with an increased interest in meditation, he chose to spend time in isolation. As his home in 1962 was only a small one room cottage he was unable to undertake meditation either at that place or at the village Temple. Thus he would travel each day 3 kilometres to nearby Mangalam Village to meditate in a spare room owned by his devotee Appu Gowndar. He would daily meditate in that room from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then afterwards return to his own village.

In 1969 a second son Dhavaraja was born to Vellayan and his wife. At that point with his spiritual thirst ever increasing, a small concrete platform was made outside his cottage to allow him to concentrate on his meditation. This programme of meditation began in 1970 and continued for 25 years. During that time he continually reduced his intake of food and water. Much of the time was spent in trance in which he spoke to siddhars. To outward appearances it appeared that Vellayan was a madman talking to the air.

Sitting on that concrete platform, where he performed meditation, he started to meet with devotees who came for his help to alleviate problems they were experiencing in their lives and to receive the Yogi’s blessings.

The Yogi’s appearance grew startling. The hair on his head and beard grew very long and was rolled up into three separate balls. Many devotees thought it a blessing to touch the rolled up balls. Visitors would bring lemons to Swami; and to some devotees the Yogi would return the fruit and instruct them to drink the juice of the lemon. To other devotees he told them to put the fruit at the front of their home in order to get rid of problems. Other devotees brought coconut, fruit, camphor, incense and flowers to Swami and he would ask the devotees to do puja to the Vel (spear) which was in front of his platform. Vellayan spoke to all devotees who came to see him and extended his grace to them.

Swamiji during his birthday function

Later Swami moved from his concrete platform into a more modern village house situated just outside the village. Many wonderful events and miracles were reported as a result of Swami’s guidance and blessings.

Birthday function of Swami

Photograph taken towards end of Swami's life

On November 5th, 2012 Swami Vellaiyananda attained samadhi.

Below are a few lines of Swamiji's biography by a devotee.

“So we come to Karumarapatti. He lives in a small house outside the village, with a large courtyard in front. In the middle is a small pedestal on which is planted a trident, symbol of Lord Shiva. In front of the wide open door is Swami, he sees us and beckons us to pick up at the shop next door, some lemons, vibhutti, a coconut, incense and bananas. We return and Swamiji indicates that we should light sticks of incense and break the coconut as an offering to Lord Shiva. After this ceremony has been performed, we enter into the small room holding the lemons, bananas and vibhutti. We sit in silence in the room where he gives his darshan. All around the walls are pictures of Swamiji.

He sits in his wooden chair with his arms on the rests. He is shirtless, skin weathered by time and he wears just a faded lungi. His face and body are coated in places with vibhutti. His eyes are deep, bright and sparkling. His beard and hair are white and fall to the ground, twisted and rolled along the ground like a snake . . . they are at least two metres long. The nails of his fingers are very long, nearly four inches at least, some broken, which pose a problem for grasping objects.

I must be dreaming, sitting here with this Yogi. It is amazing and almost unreal. A mysterious, sacred atmosphere pervades the room. I watch in silence. Then I prostrate myself at the feet of the Yogi and I remain kneeling before Him. He looks at me intently and stares into my inner being. His gaze is almost unbearable. He raises his half-closed eyes to heaven, then after what seems to be almost an eternity, he turns his gaze towards me and says with a big smile:-

"I took all your negative karma, now you no longer have any negative karma. Every day you will see me in your meditations, I'll be there."

A Miracle of Swami Vellaiyananda

Of this narrative I am about to relate I have firsthand knowledge. It is completely correct in all its essentials. This event occurred around 12 years ago and involved an ordinary village girl. The girl made a very auspicious marriage to a person of wealth, greater intelligence and higher social standing. She was the envy of her family and friends. Time passed and I hadn’t met her for a long while. When we next met I noticed how thin she had become. She acknowledged this and mentioned that although she was eating well, she was rapidly losing weight. After the passing of several more weeks I went to check on her and my concern increased at her continuing weight loss—as now she was looking dangerously thin.

I telephoned her husband (who was overseas) and suggested he bring forward his return to Tamil Nadu in order that he might take care of his wife and ensure she received the best medical care. Even though it was difficult for him to do this, something in the tone of my voice must have inspired him to take immediate action, as he quickly rearranged his schedule and was soon back in Tiruvannamalai. By the time of his return his wife looked like a walking skeleton. He took her by car to specialty hospitals in Chennai, where after a battery of tests, nothing could be found amiss. They were both filled with fear and a sense of hopelessness.

On the couples' return to Tiruvannamalai from Chennai, I met the husband and for no reason I understand (either then or now), suggested he go and meet with Swami Vellaiyananda and ask for his intercession and help. In order to save further discomfort to his wife, the husband left his wife at their home and proceeded alone to Karumarapatti Village (about 20 miles from Tiruvannamalai). Immediately upon entering Swami’s room, the Yogi looked piercingly at him and said, “your wife is almost dead. Relations jealous of her marriage which has brought wealth and good fortune have paid for a black magician to put a wasting curse on her. I shall tell you exactly what you need to do to counteract this hex and your wife will begin to put on weight from this moment on.” 

Swami Vellaiyananda gave details of what needed to be done and the husband followed his instructions exactly. From that moment his wife started to put on weight until she became plump and healthy—which she remains until this time. 

Healing Miracles of Sri Seshadri Swamigal

Sri Seshadri Swamigal arrived at Tiruvannamalai in 1889 when he was 19 years old. He lived uninterruptedly at this place for the next forty 40 years until 1929. He lived the life of an Avadhuta, with no home or ashram, and moved from place to place within Tiruvannamalai. After he left the body, his devotees made his samadhi at a spot off the Chengam Road, which was later to incorporate also an Ashram in his name which is located next to Ramana Maharshi Ashram. 

To those who have a connection with Sri Seshadri Swamigal, he is a great Mahan, and a source of strength, instruction and inspiration. But even to those who don’t know him, stories of his life and wanderings around Tiruvannamalai, of his interactions and miracles, are thrilling Divine leelas. For more information about his life go to this link here. 

. . . Swamiji drove away his devotees’ ailments whether it was paralysis or lung disease or fever or whatever serious illness, they all would vanish at the sight of Swamiji. Ghosts, devils, brahmarakshas would fly away. Scorpion, Snake poison would all be reduced to ashes. Swamiji would offer such patients some bits of food brought out from his mouth. Sometimes he used to give some green leaves and herbs to eat. After consuming the same, the disease would vanish. 

Sri Seshadri Swamigal of Arunachala

Some such stories of his amazing cures go thus: 

A Poisonous Disease 

“Swamiji aunt’s son Krishnaswamy Sastriar was living in village Thandarai near Tiruvannamalai. His first wife Shankuntala (also known as Alamelu Ammal) developed a strange poisonous ailment because of which her entire body became swollen. Her hands and legs became dead like the stem of a tree. She vomited often and ever time worms as long as four inches, came out with the vomit. Sastriar was flabbergasted. Even the doctors gave her up. Finaly he put her in his horse-driven cart and drove her to Tiruvannamalai. 

Near the point where the Temple Chariot was located, he found Swamiji. He jumped out from the car and prostrated before Swamiji, “Oh Cousin! Shankuntala is lying in the cart in a precarious condition. Please see her. Except you there is none who can cure her. I have come all the way only to seek your help”, he said, all the while in tears. Swamiji saying, “Oh, is that so? Where is she?” Got into the cart, he put his feet on the lady’s legs, abdomen and neck and crossed over to the front of the cart and took hold of the horses’ reins and whipped it to speed up. 

The horse ran like the high wind. He stopped it near the Sadhu Chathram and got down from the cart. He came to the rear and picking up some earth, threw two handfuls inside the cart. He made her swallow another handful of mud. He asked her to pack three handfuls of earth in the corner of her sari and instructed that she should smear the same on her body for three days and departed. Sastriar followed the instruction and on the fourth day her ailment vanished. 

Meenakshi’s Delirium 

Chengalvarayana was a pleader in the criminal court in Tiruvannamalai since 1899. Later on in hkis old age he donned the saffron robe and was serving Swamiji as his disciple. He had a friend by name Rao Bahadur Siva Chidambaram Pillai, a Deputy Superintendent of police. Pillai’s daughter, Meenakshi, developed high fever with delirium at 105 degrees F and the fever did not abate. The doctors gave up the case as difficult to cure. 

Chidambaram Pillai wept bitterly before his friend Chengalvarayana. He, out of compassion, informed our Swamiji who was sitting in the sanctum of Lord Muruga (Kambathu Ilayanar). He directed him to appear in that direction. Hence Chengalvarayana composed a verse in Tamil and placed it at Swamiji’s feet and did obeisance. Swamiji smilingly instructed him to go into the sanctum and read it to the deity. Accordingly he went in the sanctum and read it five or six times and showed camphor flame and brought the paper to Swamiji again. 

“Lord Murugan of Red Complexion! The sick who fall at your feet get rid of their sickness in this life. If this is true, please see that this child Meenakshi becomes healthy today.” 

Swamiji told him, Go, go. It will be cured before sunrise”. Accordingly the girl’s fever receded at 4 a.m. and she became all right. 

Scabies 

Krishnamurthy was a village Munsif. He heard from his friend about Swamiji’s greatness even when he was in his school. Every summer he used to get scabies in both his hands. It used to bother him for four months. During that period he had to depend on somebody else to do his work. For ten years he struggled with it and neither application of medicine nor magic could cure him of that. 

He then remembered Swamiji and rushed to Tiruvannamalai. On reaching there he went to a restaurant and took some tiffin. When the server brought coffee, Swamiji suddenly appeared there and started pouring the coffee to cool it and also drank a little. As Krishnamurthy had not seen Swamiji before, in his ignorance, he became somewhat angry. Luckily for him, he controlled his temper. Swamiji asked him if he had scabies in his hands and advised him to apply kumkum on it the very next day. Saying this, Swamiji ran away from the place. 

When Krishnamurthy came to know that that was Swamiji he regretted what a foolish thing he had done and thought that he had not taken even a whole cup of coffee as prasad. Hating himself for the ignorance. He started searching for Swamiji, who could not be traced. The next day he applied kumkum on the scabies and by evening the scabies dried up. By next morning the entire thing had faded.” 

[By Brahmasri Kuzhumani Narayan Sastriar]