APPENDIX
TIRUCHUZHI SUNDARA MANDIRAM

THE family house at Tiruchuzhi where Bhagavan was
born had to be sold in 1895 to clear debts. After
changing several hands it came in 1934 in to the possession
of the Tiruchuzhi Nadar Sangha. The Sangha ran a School
the teachers of which were housed there.

      Some devotees felt that the house where Bhagavan
was born was a sacred place and that it would be preferable
to be acquired by Sri Ramanasrmam. There were several
obstacles to the purchase of the building as it was a Trust
property. Finally the Sarvadhikari, Niranjananada Swami
stayed at Madurai for a couple of months in 1944 and
succeeded in purchasing it. The idea was to name it
`Ramana Mandiram' but Bhagavan pointed out "What
do people of Tiruchuzhi know who Ramana is? They knew
and respected father and mother. So let it be named
`Sundara Mandiram'."

      Truly so. Sundaram Iyer was well known as a generous
host. He was widely respected. Even robbers held him in
great respect. Once some robbers surrounded the cart of
a magistrate but when the `Vakil Sir' arrived at the spot
accidentally, they left quietly and the magistrate escaped
unharmed.

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      On the appointed day, 13 September 1944, devotees
from all over India arrived at Tiruchuzhi. The elders of
the town received the Sarvadhikari and others with due
honours and took them to the Bhoominatheswara Temple
for performing worship there.

      In the evening the pictures of Bhagavan and his
parents were taken in a procession in the town and just as
in the case of the utsava moortis of the temple, appropriate
poojas were performed to the pictures. The pictures were
later kept in the `Sundara Mandiram.' From then on regular
poojas are being performed there and in due course facilities
for the stay of visitors were also provided. For Bhagavan's
devotees Sundara Mandiram has became a holy shrine.