Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

That being so, is it possible for a person of the weaker sex,
who is only a mere observer, to know and understand all
that was done? I am however venturing to write about it,
bearing in mind what is stated by the author of Bhagavatham,
when he wrote: “I shall expound to the extent I have seen
or known or have heard from men of wisdom.”
About twenty days before the date of the celebrations,
the Saravadhikari returned from Madras. About a month had
elapsed by then, since he had gone to Madurai also. It seems
soon after he reached Madras several devotees met and made
plans for the celebrations, but until he returned to
Tiruvannamalai the preparations for the celebrations were
not very much in evidence. I do not know if anyone was
working hard elsewhere for the publication of the Souvenir
in English but so far as the people in the hall were concerned
no one appeared very keen about the celebrations. Only to
satisfy the devotees’ request, Bhagavan pretended to
rummage old records so as to collect all Sanskrit slokas for
translation into English. As soon as the Sarvadhikari arrived,
preparations began in right earnest. There is no knowing
what deliberations were held in the office or on whose
persuasion it was, but they began erecting a big thatched
shed adjacent to the hall on the hill side. For the past one
month, Krishnaswami had been feeling weak and run down.

However, as soon as the work on the shed was started, his
weakness appears to have disappeared and he got enormous
strength. He took an active part, climbing up the ladder,
stitching the palm leaves together and doing all such work.

The pandal was erected. They said the floor must be
cemented. For watering the place, ramming in poles and
doing sundry work, he appeared to have got the strength of
a giant. It is said that Hanuman was originally sitting quiet
like a bird with his tail tucked under him, but when he heard
that the ocean had to be crossed, he assumed viswarupa (body
of enormous proportions) and did all the work required.

This is an illustration of the saying that God’s devotees get
inspired and do all types of work for the good of others
when occasion arises.

You remember, you came here about twenty days ago
and took away with you the songs and essays of Sri Chinta
Dikshitulu and my “Gobbi” song saying you would get them
printed before the Golden Jubilee. After that, Muruganar
and some other devotees wrote some songs and verses and
sent them for printing. The commentary on Sri Ramana Gita
written in Sanskrit by Kapali Sastri was received duly printed.

Invitation cards in English with fifty gold stars printed around
them were sent out to devotees.

Fifty years ago, a day before Gokulashtami, it seems
Bhagavan reached Araiyaninallur. That was a Sunday. On
Monday, i.e., on Ashtami day, he had a hearty meal at the
house of Muthukrishna Bhagavathar in Kilur and stepped
into Arunachala Kshetram, on the morning of Navami,
Tuesday. From that day till now, it is a well known fact that
he has not moved out of this place. That was the 1st of
September, 1896. To enable people in other continents as
well to celebrate the event according to the Gregorian
calendar, the 1st of September was fixed for the Golden
Jubilee celebration.

According to Hindu traditions, the day after Gokulashtami
should be deemed to be the day of the Golden Jubilee
celebrations. We do not know the ways of Providence but
this year too Gokulashtami happened to be on a Monday (19th
August 1946). The next day was a Tuesday. According to
Tamil traditions, Ramaswami Iyer and others said that that
was the day for the celebrations, and so he along with some
other devotees wrote some songs and verses in Tamil and
recited them. Sri Sambasiva Rao said that according to
Telugu traditions, Navami lasted till Wednesday and so the
fifty years were completed only on the 21st and, so saying,
he wrote an old sloka and a padyam from the Bhagavatham,
beginning with, “Nee pada kamala sevayu” (in the service of
your lotus feet) and placed it before Bhagavan. Another
person composed padyams, songs and essays and began
reading them. That Stotra Parayana (recitations of prayers in
verse) was continued until two days ago.

The railway strike commenced on the 23rd. We were
wondering how the devotees could come here. Some came
to Katpadi already on the 29th and somehow managed to
come by bus or lorry. On Chathurthi (fourth day of lunar
month), puja for Vinayaka was performed in the temple. By
the side of the shed, which was named as ‘Jubilee Hall’, a
huge pandal was erected which looked very much like a
marriage pandal. Some said it would be good if a garland of
green leaves was tied around the sofa and decorated.

All the speakers came by bus by 9 o’clock at night. The
celebrations are to commence next morning. We discussed
them till late into the night and then went to sleep. When we
went to the Ashram in the early morning by 5 o’clock as
usual, “Na karmana” was already being recited. It seems they
started the routine an hour earlier than usual. The Ashram
Vidyarthis (students) brought the articles for puja, placed them
before Bhagavan and, after bowing before him, took them
into the temple. Upbraiding ourselves for our carelessness,
we went into the pandal and were surprised to find that it
was already beautifully decorated. All around the whole of
the shed, a red cloth with folds was tied, along with garlands
of green mango leaves, flowers and many other decorative
things. Recently the Rani of Baroda sent sarees full of jaree
(silver lacing) to decorate the Goddess in the temple. All those
sarees were spread over the stone sofa, which was on the
northern side of that parnasala (thatched shed) named Jubilee
Hall, so as to give it the shape of a mandir. The silver-laced
sarees were shining brilliantly because of the lights. When I
asked one of the devotees whether the sarees were not meant
for decorating the goddess in the temple, he said that that
decoration could be done only after decorating Bhagavan’s
sofa. Another devotee said that the idea was excellent.

Nothing had been done at nine the previous night. So if by
five the next morning all that decoration had been done, we
must conclude that the devotees did not sleep at all the whole
night. We do not know how other devotees arrived during
the night but by morning they were all seated in groups in
several places with all their belongings.

Bhagavan finished his bath and breakfast by 6-30 a.m.

and went towards Arunachala. By the time he returned,
Krishnaswami had already spread over the stone sofa pure
khaddar clothes and covered the seat with a newly purchased
cloth bearing the picture of the spinning wheel and the
tricolour flag. It is no exaggeration to say that it was attractive
because of its simplicity and also because the flag is a symbol
of our national honour, in the midst of the splendour of the
varied decorations. It is interesting to note that it was on a
similar day of September that Jawaharlal Nehru became the
Prime Minister of India.

By seven o’clock, Bhagavan was sitting on the sofa in
his usual loincloth with his radiant smile, to bless his devotees.

His gracious and benevolent look made all the devotees
happy. It was indeed a great privilege to see him on that day.

In olden days, Valmiki, Vyasa and other great authors told
us how God Himself came down to this world in the shape
of Avatars like Rama and Krishna to establish dharma from
time to time — “Dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge
yuge” (for establishing Dharma, righteousness, on a firm
footing, I am born from age to age; Gita IV-8). Today we are
lucky in having a similar fortune. An Avatara Purusha,
Jagadguru, Sri Ramana Paramatma has been staying in
Arunachala Kshetra for the last fifty years and has been
purifying the souls of people by his mere looks. To those
who serve him with undivided bhakti he can with his silent
teaching remove the worldly bonds and give moksha. Our
duty is to serve him instead of wasting precious time on trifles.

This Golden Jubilee itself proclaims that for fifty years now
he has been occupying the exalted position of a Guru. Many
devotees say this is a golden age or a new age. All these days
many fortunate people secured his grace, drank the nectar
of peace and became blessed ones. Many more are likely to
gain his blessings thus. Till now my eyes have not been
opened to know in fullness his real greatness. There will be
many like me, who do not know how this personification of
kindness is giving us various occasions to serve him. Of all
these occasions, it occurs to me, this Golden Jubilee is the
greatest. Even now, I do not know how to serve this great
Sage, how to pray to him and how to worship him. When he
who is omnipresent, who is omniscient and who is
incomprehensible comes here in human form what can we
give him and how could we satisfy him? The real worship of
him is to be in mouna (silence). As that type of worship is
beyond my reach. I am always staying at a distance, hoping
against hope that I may gain salvation by touching the dust
of his feet and by satisfying myself with that only. What else
is there to wish for except that he should live with us like
this for long, giving the benefit of his grace to the true seekers
of knowledge and saving their souls by his kindness and
blessings.

I shall describe to you in another letter what all had
happened from 7 o’clock in the morning to 7-15 at night.