Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(216) SUPERNATURAL SIGHTS ON ARUNACHALA

Prev Next 15th January, 1949
This afternoon, I went to Bhagavan’s Hall as early as
2 o’clock. Only the attendants and a few old devotees were
there. Bhagavan was conversing with them about sundry
matters. During the conversation, one of the devotees
addressed Bhagavan: “You told us once that you had seen on
this hill very high temples, gardens and such like. Was that all
during the period you were on the hill?”
Bhagavan: “Yes. That was perhaps when I was in the
Virupaksha Cave. I closed my eyes. I felt I was walking on
the hill itself towards the northeast. I saw at one place a nice
flower garden, a big temple, a fine compound wall and a big
Nandi (a bull carved in stone). There was a strange light. It
was extremely pleasant. As I was looking at all these, it was
time for puja (worship). The bell was rung and immediately
after that I opened my eyes.”
Devotee: “Bhagavan told us some time back that there
was a big cave also.”
Bhagavan: “Yes, yes. That also happened when I was
living on the hill. I was wandering about aimlessly when I
found at one place a big cave. When I entered the cave, I
saw a number of waterfalls, beautiful gardens, tanks within
those gardens, well laid paths, fine lighting; everything there
was most pleasing. As I went farther and farther I saw a
Realised Person (Siddha Purusha) seated like Dakshinamurthy
under a tree on the banks of a tank. Around him, a number
of saints (munis) were seated. They were asking something
and he was replying to them. That place appeared to me
very familiar. That is all. I opened my eyes. Subsequently,
after some time, when I saw Arunachala Puranam in
Sanskrit, I found the following slokas wherein Lord Siva
says:
AÇisÏ> puninRTy< vsaMy¢e suraicRt>,
mma

Ai¶St,
Xyayn! il1⁄4< mm b&hNmNdm! k...yaRTàdi][m!.

In these two slokas that cave and that Siddha Purusha
have been described and so I was surprised that what
appeared to me in a trance was to be found in that book. So
I translated them into Tamil: ‘Angiyuru vayumoli mangugiri
yaga...’. Its meaning is: ‘Though you are in the form of fire,
you have kept away the fire and have taken the shape of a
hill mainly to shower your blessings on the people. You are
always living here in the form of a Siddha. The cave that
appeared to me is in you with all the luxuries of the world.’
Recently when the temple in Adi Annamalai was renovated,
it has been reported that in the sanctum sanctorum of the
temple a large tunnel was found and when people tried to
find out its extent they saw that it was extending to the very
centre of the hill. As they could not go in very far, they came
back. I therefore thought that which occurred to me and
that which is in the Purana appears to be true and that the
tunnel was the way to the place I had seen. It is reported
that Siddha Purushas come from the cave inside to the temple
through that tunnel night after night and go back after
worshipping Ishwara. Why so far? Recently, something like
that was seen even here. I was going on to the hill as usual
when, as I was getting near the steps over there, a big city
appeared before me. There were huge buildings of several
varieties, well laid thoroughfares, good lighting; and it
appeared to be a great city. At one place a meeting was being
held. Chadwick was with me. He was even saying, ‘Bhagavan,
all this is so self-evident! Who will believe if we say this is all a
dream!’ Everything appeared as if it was actually happening.

Meanwhile, I opened my eyes.”
Devotee: “Is all this really a dream?”
Bhagavan: “I can’t say whether it is a dream or not.

What is real?”

Prev Next TOC 215. Nava Mani Mala 216. Supernatural Sights on Arunachala 217. The Big Self 218. Kundalini Sakti — Chinmaya Deha 219. The Self 220. Mutual Cursings 221. Bliss of the Self 222. Yatana Sariram 223. In the Service of the Mother 224. Tiger’s Skin 225. What Does Bhagavan Like Most? 226. Rented House