Ultimate Bliss

Ananda Acharya on Rest

You need rest, perfect rest. There comes a time in the life of man when the body and the brain and the mind want to feel the stillness of the Universal Spirit. Then, the best thing is to do nothing, to think about nothing. That takes away all misfortune, that cures all disease, that soothes all sorrow, that alone makes man whole again.

Ananda Acharya, Yoga of Conquest (Hoshiarpur, India: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1971) pp. 33-34 [February 29, {1924}]

Who is the monk?

Above is a group photo taken way back in early 60s, after I rendered 2 or 3 krithis in All India Sai Samaj (Saibaba Temple, Mylapore). In the audience were a revered monk (at whose feet I am seated) and somebody called "Professor Rege" (I still remember his name). The eyes of His Holiness are deep with knowledge of the Self. I was too young to know any details about Him. I wish to know particulars about His Holiness.
(Click on photo to enlarge).

Maha Periyava's message!

rAbove is a crown made of Tulasi beads, cardamom and 'lavangam' strewn around and shaped as "OM" (in sanskrit) on it. This is the crown which His Holiness, Pujyasri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi asked me to wear on my head while I performed in His Divine Presence (in Orikkai village, while He was observing Silence) when I was 11 years old.
Kumudam Bhakti magazine (Issue:-April 16-30,2010) carried my photographs and interview. The interview though well presented had a few gaping holes (obviously due to a communication gap) which I thought I would fill up here.
The interview states that I had been to the Ashram of Paramahamsa Yogananda in Encinitas and I also had His darshan!!!! He had attained liberation in the year 1952,even before I was born!
The article also states that I do not go abroad due to my belief that Hindu Dharma is opposed to flying overseas. This statement is partially true. There was a long period of time (through the best part of the 80s and all through the 90s) when I had simply refused to go abroad as I firmly believed that my living God, Paramacharya was against Hindus crossing the high seas. In the bargain I had even rejected plum offers from abroad inviting me to perform veena. In the latter half of 80s to the best part of 90s, I was frequenting Kanchipuram, involving myself (for a brief period during mid-90s) in the fund raising of the temple that is being constructed for Paramacharya in Orikkai village, near Kanchipuram. In the bargain I had the great fortune of meeting and interacting with renowned vedic scholars and close associates of Paramacharya. In all our conversations, the one thing that struck a chord in me was His objection to Hindus crossing the mighty Oceans. I wondered whether the rule (not to go abroad) applied only to vedic pundits and sanyasis. I even knew of a few staunch devotees who not only travelled abroad frequently, but also raised funds abroad towards the construction of Paramacharya's temple. I was genuinely confused and no matter how much I discussed about this, I could never get a clear and concrete answer whether women and artistes could go abroad. After much introspection, I decided not to accept concerts abroad. My trips to Muscat in early 90s and Berlin, Germany in 2002 for unavoidable reasons were the only exceptions. I had rejected many offers all through till last year, when the mother got the better of the aritste in me.
2009 was the year I rushed to San Diego to be with my daughter, Haritha who works for Qualcomm.
In my interview I had mentioned all about the dreams I had while in San Diego. From day one in San Diego, I had dreamt of saints and great sages. The prophetic dream about Paramahamsa Yogananda got me trailing the path to His ashram in Encinitas (a half-an-hour's drive from San Diego).
I had semi-visions of Sri Vidyaranya Swami while in San Diego and Houston. I was taken aback that all these divine things were happening to me in the US!!!! While I was posting articles on Soundarya Lahari (mantras,yantras and text) in my blog, 'Jasmine Strings' while in San Diego, I had curious dreams of 'Kundalini' rising like a serpent!
The ultimate dawning (that I was all along wrong in believing that Paramacharya was opposed to Hindus going abroad) ascended on me in the form of a prophetic dream!
In my dream, Paramacharya, in His saffrons,smiled gently as He beckoned to me. I was pushing back my two plaits and more keen to play in the sand (which means I was a child of 6 or 7 when I used to wear two braids and loved to play in the sand!) I slowly walked towards Him and He smilingly made me sit on His lap. He started chanting a famous and most powerful mantra and asked me to repeat it. I repeated it and word by word He made me repeat the entire mantra. In between, when I mispronounced a verse, He smiled and asked me "Idu yaaru solluvaa?". I corrected myself and repeated the whole mantra to His satisfaction. I asked Him in english,"how many times should I say this everyday?" He smiled widely as though to a child and told me the number, allowing me to run towards the sand.
When I woke up the next day, I understood the implication of Paramacharya appearing in my dreams while in San Diego. His appearance in my dream not only reaffirmed the fact that He was "Sarvaantharyaami" (Omnipresent), He also let me know through the dream that He was not against Hindus travelling anywhere under the sun! He actually sought His child (myself) in the US to preach me the mantra! I also realized that while I was in India I had never had such powerfully divine dreams almost everyday! From the next day of my dream till today, I recite the mantra everyday as instructed and guided by Paramacharya in my dreams in San Diego.
The Kumudam Bhakti interview mentions my dream without mentioning the crux, that Paramacharya IS NOT opposed to Hindus crossing the oceans to go abroad.

BHAGVAN NITYANAND

Jeeva-samadhi of Pujyasri Nityanand Maharaj is in Ganeshpuri, Maharashtra. He was a born siddha, an Avadhooth, born in a state of enlightenment (a perfected yogi by birth). He hailed from Kerala where He had spent the eary part of His life. In later years He moved to Ganeshpuri, 75 kilometers from Mumbai, in Maharashtra.
Right from His young age He became famous for His healing powers. He attained the name "Nithyanand" as He was constantly in a state of bliss, immersed in Supreme consciousness. He always maintained silence, speaking very rarely and only when it was necessary. Wearing a
loin cloth, He was totally oblivious to His surroundings, having no material possessions to call His own. Disciples followed Him everywhere, magnetized by His divinity and preachings.
Sadguru spread the message of Advaitha, urging disciples and followers to travel inwards towards their heart, which He said was the "hub of all sacred places!" He asked everybody to go to their hearts and roam within their hearts.
The village of Ganeshpuri grew larger after His arrival, and subsequently He established an ashram and hospital in the village. The Sadguru did not adhere to any particular spiritual practice or tradition. Sadguru Nityanand preached unique 'mantra deeksha' to His disciples.
The Swami Nityanand Ashram was also known as Gurudev Siddha Peeth. The region around the ashram had always been famous for hot-water springs. Ganeshpuri is on the banks of River Tansa which is surrounded by hot-water springs. Sadguru Nityanand Maharaj attained samadhi on August 8th, 1961.

Ascent of Kundalini

When the Sringeri Jagathguru gave me the title of "Asthana Vidushi" of Sringeri Mutt in the year 2003, my joy knew no bounds! Sringeri and Sarada Kshetram are close to my heart. I feel there is a special sanctity attached to Sringeri Mutt and all the branches of Sringeri Mutt, wherever they are in India. The temples are maintained extremely well and there is immense dignity and discipline in the way the temple priests conduct the poojas in the temple.
His Holiness, Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamiji was born in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh in 1951. As I am already attached to Sri Vidyaranya Swami's ashram in Narasaropet, I was overjoyed to learn that His Holiness, Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamiji also hailed from the same place!
The Jagadguru's Guru, Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamiji in His interview with Sri R.M.Umesh (in the book titled "Yoga, Enlightenment and Perfection") has described the ascent of 'kundalini' in detail.
Paramacharya of Sringeri states that one morning He sat in 'siddhasana' and did four pranayamas with 'jalandhara', 'uddiyaana', and 'moola-bandhas'. He began His meditation by directing His gaze to the middle of His eyebrows while mentally chanting "OM". Gradually a blue hue had manifested and He could not see any particular form. Suddenly He felt an electric shock at the middle of His soles. He felt intense heat and His body jerked sharply as the sensation moved upwards. His breathing stopped abruptly as the sensation continued to travel upwards and into His head. At that moment, He went deep into "savikalpa-samadhi".
The Acharya lost all sensation of His feet and legs and the lower portion of His body.The movement of the heat from the soles of His feet to His back had been swift and sudden, but from the base of His back to a little below the navel, the ascent was slower at the same time swift. From the navel to upwards, the heat moved with the speed of an ant.
The Acharya declared that when the heat reached the base of His back, He was able to momentarily view the lotus of the Mooladhara Chakra in full bloom. after that, He had a brief view of the Swadhishtana Chakra. As the sensation ascended His back to the level of His navel, He could clearly have a glimpse of the lotus of the manipooraka chakra facing downwards, with the petals fully closed. When the senstaion touched the chakra, the lotus instantly blossomed. The same pattern was repeated when the sensation reached the levels of Anahatha, Vishuddhi and Agna Chakras.
After the Acharya had briefly witnessed the Agna Chakra in full bloom, He experienced a bright flash of light like that of a lightning. Next He witnessed a beautiful, luminous, tiny blue orb. His attention became glued to this tiny blue orb and gradually its smallness became inapparent. Thereafter the Acharya apprehended the forms of Shiva and Parvathi within the blue orb. Acharya describes that moment as His "savikalpa-samadhi".

LOVE!

I have a book in telugu titled, "Nadichey Demudu" authored by Sri. Neelamraju Seshaiah. This book is a compilation of the experiences of many devotees (from Andhra Pradesh ) of Kanchi Maha Periyavaa, concerning His Holiness. Every essay is a moving account of feelings, devotion and experiences of the bhakthaas of Maha Periyavaa, I had read this book atleast twice.

The most touching version came from a devotee called Sri Kalloori Venkata Subrahmanya Dikshithulu. His experience strengthened my belief about 'bhakthi'. People usually misinterpret 'bhakthi' as overwhelming respect/fear, to the extent of distancing oneself from the deity instead of approaching and attaining the deity. I had always felt that 'bhakthi' meant overwhelming love aimed towards spiritual proximity packaged with intensity of passion and longing, same as the lovelorn sentiments expressed by Sri Thyagarja ('Nannu vidachi kadalakura'-Rithigowla, towards Lord Rama, ...'Ika thalanu nenu', Devibrova, Chinthamani by Sri Syama Sasthri towards Goddess Kamakshi, and innumerable other compositions of theirs in other ragas and compositons of various other saint composers, Azhwars and Nayanmars.)

I had read the article of Sri Kalloori Venkata Subrahmanya Deekshithulu many number of times as I found the dialogue in sanskrit between Maha Periyavaa and Sri Deekshithulu spiritually stimulating and emotionally fulfilling. The conversation between Maha Periyavaa and Sri. Deekshithulu in sanskrit left a deep impact in my heart. Here is a translation of the same from telugu to english in first person as narrated by Sri Kalloori Subrahmanya Deekshithulu:-

SANNIDHAANA BHAAGYAM

Srivaru ( devotees from Andhra address Maha Periyavaa as "Srivaru") was touring in Tamilnadu.I usually try to be in His divine presence( His 'Sannidhi' )during summer holidays. One evening, in a remote village in Tamilnadu, Srivaru commenced His discourse:-

" Birth and death are natural phenomena in human life. Manmatha is the cause of birth and Yama is the cause of death. If not for the misery caused by these two, there would be no birth or death. To avoid rebirth, we need to appeal to the One who had controlled Manmatha. To eradicate death, we need to propitiate to the One who had punished Yama. Both these jobs were done by only One Supreme being, who is none other than the Smarahara and Mrithyunjaya, Lord Shiva! Lord Srikantha (Maha Vishnu) is not easy to attain, whereas, Lord Shiva is very easy to please and attain. Let us all surrender to Lord Shiva,'Namah Parvathipathaye Harahara Mahadeva!"

I joined the chorus of voices. Srivaru then went on to another episode.
After the discourse Srivaru rested on the terrace of a small house in the village. The person who was appointed to attend on Srivaru was reclining on the steps. It was past midnight and I was unable to sleep. I sat downstairs on the 'arugu' ( a small cement slab in the frontyard of the house),pining for the Darshan of Srivaru. I mustered up some courage and decided to go upstairs. The man in attendance stopped me,"Periyavaa is taking rest, don't go upstairs." Feeling dejected, I went back downstairs to resume my earlier position. I tried to find solace in reading about the sentiments of the Gopikas towards Lord Krishna and the poetry of Sri Pothana. My mind refused to feel settled and I abruptly got up to go upstairs. I found the man in attendance half asleep. Without waiting for a second thought, I quickly jumped up the stairs towards the terrace.
I found Srivaru resting on His side, using His hand as a pillow. Without disturbing Him, I tiptoed to a distant corner, watching Him.
"Kaha?" (Who?) Srivaru asked me in sanskrit.
"It is me, Kalloori."
Srivaru asked immediately, "Nidraa Naayaathaa Kim? Naidaaghasthopo Baadhatheyvaa?" (Are you unable to sleep because of the heat?)
"Na Naidaaghasthaapaha (it is not because of the heat). From morning onwards I was trying to get atleast 5 minutes of time in your "sannidhi", I was pining to be with You! I want atleast five minutes of "Ekaantha Seva" (private darshan) in the presence of Your Holiness, You have to give me that." my voice was tremulous.
"Thvayi Gopikaathva Mathi Dishya Mayi Krishnathvam Sambhaavya Kimapi Sambhaavitham Khalu-"(Are you attributing Gopika tattvam [nature of Gopikas] to yourself and Krishna tattvam [nature of Lord Krishna] to me and imagining further?)
I wondered how He had guessed! I could not bring myself to reply.
Srivaru continued, "Adya Asmaabhi sthamila Bhaashaayaam Prasangaha Kruthaha Thvam Bhaashaanabhignyaha Kim Jaanaasi Maduktham" (We were conversing in Tamil, were you able to understand?)
I replied,"Srivaru ordained that I should understand, that is why I could understand." I had been travelling extensively in Tamilnadu for the sake of Srivaru, yet I could never understand the native language. Most surprisingly, I could follow the discourse of Srivaru on that day, as per His 'sankalpam'(His wish).Srivaru asked me to tell Him what I inferred from His discourse. I narrated the essence of His discourse in the form of a small sloka:-
"Janimrithi Virathirbhavedithithvaam Rathipathi Shaashakameesha Kaalakaalam
Himagiri Thanayaa Dvitheeya Meedey Parama Dayaarasa Meesha Madvitheeyam."
Translation:-"Manmatha is the cause of birth, Yama is cause of death. The Supreme Lord who had supressed both of them is Kamavairi Mruthyunjaya, Chandrasekhara, Lord Shiva. He presented half of His body to the daughter of Himalayas, He is merciful and compassionate. To defeat birth and death, we should surrender to Him!"
Srivaru listened with a smile. His smile felt like moonlight.
"You asked me for 5 minutes of my private time, how many minutes have passed?" Srivaru asked.
"Maybe 15 minutes have passed..."I replied.
I felt remorseful and guilty for disturbing His rest, I said,"I am unable to bear the sight of Srivaru resting on this hard floor."
He immediately replied,"Kim Nashrutham?"( have you not heard?)
'Kshithithala Shayanam Tharuthalavaasaha
Karathalabhikshaa, Kowpeenavanthaha Khalubhaagyavanthaha!"
(The most prosperous are the ones who wear nothing other than a loin cloth. Sleeping on hard floors, living under trees, food in the palm of the hand - who can be more prosperous than this? A materialist can never be so prosperous!)
He consoled me and sent me back.

The Defining Moment!

I was on my road to recovery from a very long bout of fever. I must have been 10 or 11 years old. I distinctly remember my parents whispering to each other, " Let us ask her and see if she is able to perform"......"If she is not fit enough to perform how to tell them or let go of such a divine oppurtunity?", -"What a blessing and great fortune if she plays Veena in His presence!" etc. They found me awake and asked me whether I felt okay enough to be able to perform. I think I would have said yes, because I remember my mother immediately packing a suitcase and changing the strings on my veena, my father making arrangements for a private taxi and in no time we were heading to somewhere. On my way I learnt that we were going to Kanchipuram.
In order to avoid breeze from outside from blowing on my face due to my fever, my parents made me sit in between them. I remember throwing a mini tantrum for not letting me have my favourite left corner of the backseat.
I very clearly remember my stomach growling for food and after many days of eating horrid idlis (till date I cannot stand them),I started to feel hungry. All through the ride, I kept fantasizing about eating my favourite potato fry, mysore pak, ladies finger fry etc. I must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing I remember was standing in a sleepy state in the midst of rows of people in the middle of their lunch. Tantalizing aromas of sambar, rasam, koottu and curry wafted through the air to reawaken my longing for food. Weak and tired after the travel, I was positively famished.
Seating ourselves in one of the rows, my mother told the brahmin who was serving food, "Please get her idlis, she is not well". I was indignant that I have to eat idlis all over again. I promptly threw another tantrum only to be reprimanded, "You don't want to fall sick again,do you? Don't you want to get well soon?" I started crying and some people nearby said "Let her have rasam rice, it will not harm her". Even rasam sounded like heaven to me after the onslaught of idlis. I readily agreed. I begged and pleaded for an appalam, but was refused one because they were fried in oil which I was supposed to avoid. That brought fresh tears into my eyes again and noticing my plight one of the brahmins who was serving food gave me an appalam, telling my parents "Nothing will happen to her, Periyava will take care of her." I discarded  the appalam midway, as I could not stomach anymore of it or the rasam rice. My parents were right as always, I was still having temperature and unable to relish anything! (After all these years, if I can still remember this scenario, I wonder how hungry I really must have been for that "appalam" to stay on in my memory!!!") In between the meal I was aware of people giving me inquisitive looks and whispering among themselves "She is Baby Gayathri". Whenever people stared and whispered about me I would think that one of my two braids had come off or the ribbons had come off! It never ever occurred to me that they stared at me because I played the veena at a young age!
I don't remember what time we finished eating or even if it was on the same day, but the next thing I recall was the pooja of Sri Chandramouleeswarar performed by Pujyasri Maha Periyava at the Kanchi Mutt sometime around noon.
The crowd was overwhelming in the large hall. I sat between the crowd and Maha periyava, who was conducting the pooja. As I started performing I noticed that Maha Periyava was totally immersed in His pooja and all the people were watching the pooja in hushed silence. I could sense a feeling of reverence and awe around me. To my childish eyes Maha Periyava appeared to be serious and strict. He would gaze in my direction now and then, without giving out any emotion. His eyes wore a blank look and I thought to myself that He was a serious person indeed!I felt a little scared of Him as I realised that everybody around me was equally overawed by His presence, including my father! There were no claps after every song and I found it strange! I don't remember how long I played, but after the concert we all prostrated to Maha Periyava and He raised His hands and blessed us without saying anything. We were later on informed that Maha Periyava was in "mounam" and would not talk for the day.
As we were preparing to leave for Chennai, the Kanchi mutt authorities asked us to wait and not to leave. In a few minutes, one of the mutt managers rushed to tell us that Maha Periyava wanted me to play in His presence once more in Orikkai village on the same evening. We waited for a long time to be taken to a place that looked like a hut ,with people thronging the place. We were ushered inside along with the veena and I was asked to play all over again. In all the crowd jostling and general confusion, it was difficult for my childish mind to find its bearings. My father was right next to me to give me moral support. There was no mike, no mridangam or tambura. Inside the hut, inspite of the crowd there was a hushed silence, like the one I had witnessed during Sri Chandramouleeswarar Pooja. I looked around fearfully and found the solemn figure in saffron robes in a corner of the thatched hut. His divine figure was visible in a dim light. It was late afternoon and the sun rays fell partially over the small, thin figure of Maha Swami, sitting with both knees together to one side. His posture and solemn eyes registered in my heart forever and I felt a wave of current pass through me.
"Papa,play,play", the mutt people urged me to commence my performance and I started playing. I simply don't remember what I played, all I can recall is that my body instantly became drenched in sweat. The fever had broken and I was oblivious to everything else other than concentrating on my playing, in between looking at my father for assurance that I was on the right track. Strangely my father did not give me his usual signals, even he was totally absorbed in gazing at the solemn figure of the Acharya seated in the far corner. After a long while Maha Periyava got up to leave. As he left abruptly to the adjoining room-like place, some people asked me to stop and some asked me continue. I was totally confused as to what I was supposed to do. A person who went along with Maha Periyava to the adjoining room returned to ask me not to get up. He gestured for me to be seated along with my veena. My parents and myself waited along with the crowd not knowing what to expect.
After a considerable time, Maha Periyava returned. In His hands He held a crown made of sandalwood beads and cardamoms. A huge "OM" in Sanskrit was drawn by cloves on the crown. He handed over the crown to the mutt administrators indicating that they should give the crown to me. As I received the crown, I saw Periyava conveying to me in sign language to place it over my head. Feeling a little shy and self-conscious, I placed the crown on my head. Resuming His earlier position, He gestured with His hands asking me to continue my performance with the crown on my head!!
I started playing the veena once again, with the added weight of the sandalwood crown on my head. I lifted my head to catch a glimpse of Maha Periyava and my gaze encountered His form, sitting in His earlier position, with both his legs folded to one side, one of his palms resting on the floor next to Him and His body leaning slightly towards one side. The early evening sunlight streaming through the many holes of the thatched hut cast an enigmatic hue on Maha Periyava. The glow of sunrays that were focused on Him , formed an aura around Him or was it a halo that was visible only to my innocent childish eyes? His entire figure which washed in the late evening glow haunts me till today.  I sadly realise that I had the experience of a lifetime when I was a mere child incapable of comprehending the treasure that was presented to me! I was too innocent to grasp the enormity of my encounter! My only solace today is my hazy memory of all the events connected to the most sacred encounter that has defined my life.
The crown is with me, in my pooja room, representing Maha Periyava's Grace and blessings in my life.