5.
INITIATION FOR SRI BHAGAVAN

EVEN during the days Bhagavan lived on the Hill,
His fame as a perfect Jnani had spread far and wide,
and people of several religions were visiting him in large
numbers. One of these visitors was a Sri Vaishnava hailing
from either Srirangam or Kanchipuram -- I do not
remember which.

      Although this man was orthodox, he showed
profound regard and admiration for Bhagavan as one who
had attained the highest stage in Yoga. Much to our
surprise, and contrary to usual Vaishnava custom, he used
to prostrate morning and evening to Bhagavan. He stayed
with Him for three days, during which he spoke about
the state of a Jivanmukta. He was all praise for Bhagavan,
but had the one doubt as to how a Jivanmukta could
attain the Abode of Vishnu without formal initiation; his
own teacher was much troubled also on this point and
had sent him with the offer to come in person to confer
initiation on Bhagavan with mantra and sealing of the
Vaishnavite emblems on His shoulders -- if He consented
to receive it at his hands. He added that his teacher was
greatly concerned about the welfare of such a rare soul as
Sri Maharshi, and he had been commissioned by God in
a dream to give Him this initiation.

      All there were eager to know how Bhagavan would
react to this extraordinary proposal. But Sri Maharshi kept
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his usual silence. Perhaps He hoped the emissary would go
away quietly when found that his mission was a failure; if so,
He was disappointed, for the Vaishnava remained. But when
he spoke to Bhagavan about his teacher's dream, Bhagavan
had no difficulty in solving the problem and quietly remarked:
"Let the same Lord appear in my dream also and order me to
accept the initiation, and I shall accept it."

      On the third day after this pious soul arrived, an old
Brahmin came to Skandashram with a bundle; after
prostrating to Sri Bhagavan, he laid the bundle before
Him and went out for his bath -- but strangely did not
return. After some time, curious to know the contents of
the bundle, Bhagavan had it untied; in it was found a
palm-leaf manuscript of the Arunachala Purana. Bhagavan
untied the strings of the manuscript and began to read it.

      Lo, He found there a verse on initiation: "To souls
living within twenty-four miles of Arunachala, union with
Me will be granted, even without any initiation to remove
impurity (mala). Thus have I decreed, and this is My
behest." This Vaishnava devotee was amazed at this decree
of the Lord; the very appearance at that time of the
Arunachala Purana and the disappearance of the old
Brahmin seemed to him to be equally mysterious. All felt
that the Lord Arunachaleswara Himself had presented the
verse as answer to the Vaishnava doubts. The pious devotee
took leave of Bhagavan, saying he would report the whole
history to his teacher.

      How strange to fancy that a Jivanmukta, who is
already full, has anything to receive at the hands of another!

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