Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

While the devotees in the Ashram were searching for these
references, Bhagavan himself said, “Nayana (Kavyakantha
Ganapati Muni) said that Skanda (Lord Subramanya)
was born first as Bhattapada, then as Sambandha
(Thirujnanasambandhar), and in the third birth as Ramana.

The appellation, ‘dravida sisuhu’ used by Sri Sankara in
Soundarya Lahari refers to Sambandha, doesn’t it? Therefore
Sambandha must have existed prior to Bhattapada who was
a contemporary of Sankara. Nayana said that Sambandha
was of a later date than Bhattapada. One is not consistent
with the other. Which of the above versions is the authority
for the aforesaid lecturer’s statement is not yet known.”
Surprised at these words which were meant to throw
everyone off guard, I said, “Why so much discussion about
it? We may ask Bhagavan himself. Doesn’t Bhagavan know
who He is? Even if He does not tell us now there is His own
reply to the song asking, ‘Who is Ramana?’ written by
Amritanatha Yatindra while Bhagavan was dwelling on the
Hill.” Bhagavan replied, “Yes, yes!” with the smile of approval
on His face, waited for a while, and then said, “Amritanatha
is a peculiar person. He is very interested in all matters.

When I was on the Hill he used to come now and then and
stay with me. One day I went somewhere. By the time I
returned he had composed a verse in Malayalam, asking
“Who is Ramana?” left it there and went out. I wondered
what was written on the paper, so I looked at it and found
out. By the time he returned I composed another verse in
reply, in Malayalam, wrote it down below his verse and put
the paper back. He likes to attribute supernatural powers to
me. He did so when he wrote my biography in Malayalam.

Nayana had it read out to him, and after hearing it, tore it
off, saying, “Enough! enough!’ That was the reason for his
posing this question also. He wanted to attribute some
supernatural powers to me, as ‘Hari’ or ‘Yathi’ or ‘Vararuchi’
or ‘Isa Guru’. I replied in the manner stated in the verse.

What could they do? They could not answer. A Telugu
translation of those verses is available, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Isn’t Bhagavan’s own version enough for us
to establish that Bhagavan is Paramatma Himself?” I said.

Bhagavan smiled, and lapsed into mouna (silence).

I give below the prose translation of those Malayalam
verses given in Ramana Leela:
Amritanatha’s question: “Who is this Ramana in the
Arunachala Cave, who is renowned as the treasure of
compassion? Is he Vararuchi or Isa Guru? or Hari? or
Yatindra? I am desirous of knowing the Guru’s Mahima
(supernatural powers).”
Bhagavan’s reply: “Arunachala Ramana is the Paramatma
Himself who plays about as Consciousness in the hearts of
all living beings, from Hari downwards. He is the Supreme
Being. It will be clear to you if you open the eye of jnana and
see the truth.”