Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

There was no talk, no greetings. It was soon midday. He
made signs to his friend to mean: “I do not know who this
boy is, but he appears to be tired; please get some food and
give it to him.” Accordingly they brought some. It was boiled
rice. Each grain was sized. There was sour water underneath.

There was a bit of pickle to go with it. That was the first
bhiksha given to me by Sri Arunachaleswara. Actually there is
not an iota of pleasure in what I eat now. All the meals and
sweets (pancha bhakshya paramanna) are nothing compared
to that food,” said Bhagavan. “Was it on the very first day of
Sri Bhagavan’s arrival in that place?” someone asked.

“No, no, the next day. Taking it as the first bhiksha given
me by Ishwara, I ate that rice and pickle and drank the water
given me. That happiness I can never forget,” remarked Sri
Bhagavan.

“I believe there is some other story about Sri Bhagavan
going to the town for the first time for bhiksha,” said one
devotee.

“Yes, there used to be one lady devotee. She very often
used to bring me some food or other. One day she arranged a
feast for all the sadhus and pressed me to dine along with them.

I signalled her to say that I would not do so and that I would be
going out begging. I had either to sit and eat with them all or
go out for bhiksha. Yes, it was God’s will, I thought, and started
out for bhiksha. That lady had doubts as to whether I would go
out for bhiksha or join the feast. She sent a man behind me. As
there was no escape I went to a house in the street to the left of
the temple and standing in front of it, clapped my hands. The
lady of the house saw me and, as she had already heard of me,
recognized me and called me in, saying, ‘Come in, my son,
come in.’ She fed me sumptuously saying, ‘My boy, I have lost a
son. When I see you, you seem just like him. Do come daily like
this, my boy.’ I subsequently learnt that her name was
Muthamma,” said Bhagavan.