Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Why this childishness?’
“After listening to that mild reprimand of Parameswara,
Parvati realised her mistake, felt ashamed and prayed for
permission to do penance for the expiation of her sin.

Parameswara said, ‘You are the Mother of the world. You
have no sin. There is no need for penance.’ She was not
satisfied. She said she would set an example to the whole
world and so would do penance, and after obtaining his
permission she started southwards. At that time, in the
kingdom of Kasi, there was a drought and famine. The people
were suffering greatly, as they could not get food. Seeing
this on her way and taking pity on the people, Devi created
a big mansion by her mere wish, took the name of
Annapurna, and with the vessel which never got empty, fed
thousands of people. Before long, her fame spread
throughout the country. Meanwhile, the king himself found
that his granary had become empty and was wondering what
to do. When he heard of the poor feeding that was being
done by the lady Annapurna, he was greatly surprised at the
ability of a mere woman and, to test her, asked for the loan
of a few measures of rice. He got a reply to say that there
was no question of lending but that he could come there
and eat. With a wish to test her ability, the king and his
ministers went there in disguise and ate the food that was
given. When the king found the inexhaustibility of the food
that was being served all round, he immediately realised that
this could not happen by any human agency and must be by
a divine power. And so, after the meal, he went and fell at
the feet of Annapurna and said, ‘Great Mother, please live
with us and grant us deliverance.’ Pleased with the devotion,
the Holy Mother assumed her original form and said, ‘My
son, I’m pleased with your devotion. As I have stayed here
so long, your country will be relieved of the evils of draught.

You will now have rains and there will be no famine. I cannot
stay here any longer. I must go south for my penance. Rule
the people well and be happy.’ The king said, ‘Even so, you
should be available to us for our worship.’ So the Mother
agreed and left. That is the reason why she manifested herself
as ANNAPURNA and the place where she was is now famous
as the Temple of Annapurna.

“From there she went to Kancheepuram in the South,
made a Sivalinga of sand, worshipped it and, on realising
that she was free from sin, and at the prayer-full requests of
the people, manifested herself there as Kamakshi. After that,
she got upon the Bull and saying she would go to Arunagiri,
she came here. Devi went first to the Gautama Ashram at
the foot of the Pravala Hill. On seeing her, Satananda, the
son of Gautama, was filled with devotional fervour. He invited
her into the Ashram, worshipped her as prescribed and
requested her to stay on while he went to the forest to bring
his father Gautama, who had gone to fetch some kusa grass.

By that time Gautama had already started for home and,
when Satananda saw him, he ran to his father with great
excitement and told him that the Divine Mother had come
to their Ashram. The whole forest in the twinkling of an
eye became green and full of flowers and fruits. Gautama
was surprised and asked his son if it was really so.

Satananda, with a faltering voice said, ‘Mother Parvati
herself has come.’ Equally thrilled and elated, Gautama
hastened to the place, saw Parvati and worshipped her. After
that the Devi performed penance according to the
instructions of Gautama for a long time when Mahadeva
presented Himself and said that He would give her
whatever boon she asked for. Devi said with great respect
that she would become half of Siva Himself. ‘I cannot live’,
she said, ‘any longer with a separate body. If separate,
I may make another mistake like this and then undergo all
the hardships of penance and suffer the pangs of separation.’
Parameswara therefore acceded to her request and so became
as ‘ARDHANAREESWARA’. This is how Amba the Mother
of the universe became one half of Siva.”
While narrating this story, Bhagavan became visibly
affected, tears welled up in his eyes and his voice faltered.

On completing the narration he assumed a dignified silence.