Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

On such occasions, if any attendants happened to be
massaging his legs with medicated oil, Bhagavan used to say
in a lighter vein, “Excellent, this is also good in a way. When
these people see me thus, they would say, ‘this Swami himself
is suffering from pains in the legs and is getting massaged
by others. What can he do for us?’ and go away without
coming anywhere near me. So far so good.”
Four days back, Bhagavan called all the doctors and
showed them a news item which he read in the newspapers
about a person who was reported to have died as a result of
too much of vitamin food and vitamin injections. Next day
the news appeared in another newspaper. Showing it again,
he began saying, like a child, “For the last two years, a lot
of vitamins are being given to me, saying that it is all good
for my body. Not satisfied with it, they tried to give injections
also. See what has happened to this person reported in the
newspapers!” It is said that a great yogi enjoys bliss as if he
were a little boy or an insane person. He knows everything
but conducts himself as if he knows nothing. If he so desires,
cannot Bhagavan cure all diseases? Can he not cure himself?
He leaves it to others; that is because he never looks upon
the body as his own.

Two or three years back when Bhagavan had jaundice,
he could not relish his food and felt a great dislike for food.

For about a week or ten days he ate only popcorns and the
like. As Echamma and Mudaliar Patti have a vow that they
will not eat until Bhagavan takes at least a morsel of food
cooked by them he used to take a few grains from the rice
brought by these ladies and mixing them with popcorn,
used somehow swallow that food so that their vratam or
deeksha might remain unimpaired. There is no limit to his
benevolence and consideration for the feelings of his
devotees, whatever the occasion might be. He does not allow
others to feel hurt or aggrieved in any manner.

A number of doctors were giving him medicines to cure
the jaundice. For their satisfaction, Bhagavan used to take
the medicines and for the satisfaction of these ladies he used
to eat their food. The good effects of the former and the bad
effects of the latter neutralised themselves. Months passed
by; the jaundice persisted. A reputed doctor from Madras
was called. The result was the same. After all had come and
gone, and after all medicines had been tried without success,
he cured himself of jaundice in no time with sonti (dry ginger),
pippalu (ipecac) and other Ayurvedic herbal medicines. Let
any one venture to ask him how the disease was cured!