Thread by @anbezhil12

#MahaPeriyava
Compiled by Jagadguru Sri Maha Periyava - Kanchi Paramacharya/Fb

Dr.Sivasankaran looked through the window of the Boeing aircraft as it was descending. “Exactly 20 years have gone by after leaving Madras” said he. His wife Bhagirathi was an ardent devotee of

Maha Periyava and wanted His Dharshan. Sivasankar did not believe in Mahans. “I am a Physicist and an agnostic.” He proclaimed. As they were waiting to alight he started ranting about all the ills in India. To change the subject his wife asked him,
“When you started for the U.S,

for the first time, how many dollars did you have?”

“Two dollars! Just two dollars!” that was his most favourite topic, how many times had he narrated it! “Landed in Kennedy airport; I didn’t have sufficient money for even making a phone call. At that time I didn’t know what a

collect call was’. At that time there…….”

Bhagirathi prepared herself to listen to that narration for the 27th time! They remained in their seats till everyone got down and came out, Sivasankaran saw the board announcing that the escalator was out of order and laughed

sarcastically.
“It is sufficient if India feeds its poor people and tries to control the population. Nothing else is needed; why satellites and missiles?”—–he gave a simple solution to the country’s problems in three lines. Bhagi walked silently without answering. She didn’t want

to indulge in any discussion till they reached Kanchi. Right from collecting their baggage to waiting for their travels pick up Sivasankaran found everything unpardonable in India. At that time a man came and asked him, “Are you Sivaraman?”

“Dr.Sivasankar”

“You are the Kanchi

party, isn’t it? You had asked for a car from Pradeepa Travels, right?”

“Yes”

“Wait, I have brought the vehicle”

“I am not Sivaraman.”

“Right Sivasankar, come! The vehicle is for you only!”

Bhagirathi was impressed by the driver.

He took the luggage, put it in the dickey,

opened the door for them.

“What sort of travel agents are they? Cannot give a name properly?”

“Sometimes, such mistakes do occur; in the telex message”

“Driver! What is your good name?”Bhagirathi changed the subject.

“Paulraj, madam! Shall I turn on the A/C? Shall I play the

cassette player?”
“No music” said Sivasankaran.
The car started and soon joined the main road. After turning towards Poonamalli, Bhagirathi told him, “Go slowly Paulraj! We are not in a hurry!”

“Don’t you want to have Darsan of Periyava today? we can reach there in two hours.”

Sivasankaran replied, “We will have Darsan tomorrow, leisurely. I am not particular about it;, it is only for this lady; she has come all the way from America, only for this.”

“Oh! Is it so? I am so happy! Periyavar is God-incarnate Sir! So far I have had Darsan 88 times,

another 12 more to complete 100, same as His age!”

“Paulraj! Aren’t you a Christian?

“Yes Sir! What if I am so?”

“Funny!”—replied Sivasankaran.

“He is our God in my home, Sir! You know what He says? ‘Go to church! Go to Masoodhi! Go to the temple!’ Finally, all Gods are same,

is it not?”

“Does He bring out Vibhoothi (sacred ash)?”

“That is SaiBaba! One look by Periyava is enough, whatever you seek, will be yours!”

“Did it happen to you?”

“Why not? Yes! I wanted my daughter Rosemary to get the post office job. In my next trip, she got the

appointment order.”

“Is it so? He is in Telephones also, then?”

Paulraj didn’t notice the sarcasm in the statement.

“Periyavar is the God. From a distance, look at Him and ask, your request will be granted. What do you seek, Sir?”

“A good hotel in Kancheepuram”

“Madam, for

you?”

“Peace of mind!”

“Sir is very sarcastic!”

“Look here, Paulraj, I have no faith in these things. In my research God is not needed.”

“I need it, Sir!”

It was 3 o’clock when they neared Kanchi. Ducks were swimming in the lake, embracing the road which was lined with palm

trees Temple towers looked bright and new. The whole city was decorating itself for celebrating the nearing of the 100th year. Thatched walls and bamboo logs were crisscrossing everywhere; cows, bulls and dogs were running here and there, Bhagirathi was overwhelmed with joy! A

big shamiana was being erected there.

“The celebration is going to be here, Madam!” Paulraj.

“Will anybody, looking at this place believe that this was the capital city of the old Pallava kings? You saw Vatican, how was that (as compared to this)? How the U.S will preserve a

place which is 1000 years old?” He asked his wife.
“We will straight away go and have His Darsan, after that, will visit other temples!”-Paulraj.

Sivasankaran decidedly disagreed and said,” First check in the hotel and only then any other job.”

“No, Sir; we may have only half

an hour to see Him. That is why I drove down so fast.”

“We will see Him tomorrow; first hotel; I am hungry.”

Only one 3 star hotel was available; when they checked in and entered the room, Sivasankaran started again, “cockroaches in the bath room, blood stains on the wall,

dirty towels, medicine smell. At least a small percentage of the comfort available in America”
Bhagirathi couldn’t stand it anymore, “Please, can’t you leave the U.S and come back to India for at least 2 days? We have come here to have Darsan of Periyava, not to count the bugs!”

In the meanwhile, Paulraj came there and called Bhagirathi, saying that Bala Periyava is conducting pooja for Ambal.

“Coming Paulraj! Hello, get up, let us go”

“I am not coming; you may go; I will stay put in the room.”
After much tantrum from him Bhagirathi said,
“Please,

for a day, just for a day, can you not forget your Physics talk? Can’t you give up your obstinacy? Did we not lose our son just because of this adamant, inflexible approach?”

He looked calmly with burning eyes at Bhagirathi and said, ‘l”Am I the lone cause, for that?”

“Don’t

start all over again”

‘Tell me, am I the lone cause?”

“Ok, I am also responsible!”

Paulraj realized his own delicate position and left that place, saying that he would bring the car to the hotel entrance.

“Ok! I will come! But I will not remove my shirt; I will smoke now and

then; I am an atheist; I believe that religion is also a drug, a cheating game!”

“Just accompany me!” said Bhagirathi. He wore the Bermuda and the University T-Shirt, put on the baseball cap on his head and said,” Come on! Let us move!”

Bhagirathi tried to control her sobs and

thought, ‘Why is he so adamant? Is something bad going to happen?”
Hundreds of people were sitting in the hall and watching the pooja being performed. Pudhu Periyava was also there.

After a tiresome wait, they moved along the wall and went near Him.

Sivasankaran stood at a

corner. “Why are you standing? Please sit down. What is the name?-Pudhu Periyava.

“Sivasankar”

“Place?”

“In Princeton, America, I am a Physics professor.”

“Jayaraman, who is very close to the Matham, also lives in Princeton, Is it not?”

“I do not know. I know that a very

learned man called Einstein lived in Princeton once.”

“What does your Physics conclude? Is it not the same what AdiSankarar mentioned?”

“No Swami! Physics has come far far ahead. The whole universe is a single particle, one single power that is what they are trying to explain.”

“The same thing is explained here as Sakthi and Sivan residing in one whole thing as Ardhanareeswarar.”

“No. What we are saying is different.”

“That is English this is Sanskrit. Bavaaneethvam “I will hereafter become you. I will dissolve ME and MINE in you.” That is what He

says.”

“It is not like that”

Bhagirathi intervenes now and says, “Come, let us go”

“You don’t believe in miracles?”

“No!”

“Paul Brunton, Arthur Koestler have all written a lot on this. Haven’t you read any of them?”

“No”.

“When Paramacharya was camping in Mehboobnagar, for

Chaturmasya pooja, a person from America, like you, had come to see Him. He came from the bus stand on a cycle rickshaw. He took His blessings. He used to talk in those days. He smeared the Kumkum on His forehead and gave him apples. He had his meal in the Matham and looked for

his wallet for giving some contribution. Alas, he had lost it somewhere. Not only the wallet, but also the passport and the travellers’ cheques, for fifteen thousand dollars! He was dumbstruck. Where could he go searching for it? It was not in the dining place, nor in the house

of the cyclerickshawala. Finally, do you know where it was? He got it from the cement bench in the bus stand where he was sitting! At least two thousand people would have passed that bench! What do you say for this Sivasankaran? Is it not a miracle? How does your Physics explain

this phenomenon?”

“You may call it a miracle; but I would call it ‘Probability’ or ‘Chance’. Is the Darsan over, shall we leave Bhagi?”

He smiled and gave him prasadam.

After coming out, Bhagi said, “Should you have argued with Him also?”

“Why? He is also an Atma like me,

isn’t it? That is what Advaitam says?”

Paulraj, who was waiting outside, said, “Come! We can have His Darsan! He will be there for another half an hour.”

The queue stretched up to the street. Bhagirathi came running and joined the tail of the queue. She forgot all other things.

It was slightly dark inside. They slowly neared the place. Inside the room, Periyava, nearly 100 years old, was sitting in a reclining pose. Above His head, above the saffron coloured cloth, was placed a crown made of leaves. The knee was bent. He was not looking at any body in

particular. Near Him, a young boy was regulating the crowd and was putting the garland around His neck, now and then. He recognized Paulraj and asked him, “How many times now?”

“89! This Sir is coming from America.”

“A lot of people come from America. Come Madam, come near and

have Darsan.” He invited them. Bhagirathi lost control of her emotions at that time and started shedding tears, which fell on her saree and fell off.

“Please tell Paramacharya, we travelled 10,000 miles and came here just for this moment. Though my husband argues a lot, inside,

he has belief within himself. We had only one son. We named him Balaji. He was ok till he was 12 years old. But in that cursed country, father and son had difference of opinion and one day he went away from home. We searched for him all over the world, Nepal, Ceylon, Japan, every

where. Whether he died in an accident or is he alive, we do not know. We have lost our only son. No peace of mind till today.”

“Pray to Paramacharya Sir, you too.” That young boy went near Him and narrated it in His ears. He lifted His hand and blessed them. One big eye from

behind the glasses looked at her. Bhagirathi’s heart was filled with joy and bliss. The youth gave them an apple and rose flowers and said, “Everything will be ok. Do not worry. What is the boy’s name you said?”

“Balaji”

They came out. ‘Why are you crying like a child?” asked

Sivasankar. “You expect your son to return like it happens in movies?”

She cried uncontrollably.

“Bhagi! Don’t be silly! Do not create a scene! Come on” For the first time, he revealed a hint of sympathy, put his hand around her shoulders and lead her away.

Behind them, they

heard an attendant’s voice, “Mami, Mami! Periyava has sent someone to you”.

“Who is it?”

A young man was accompanied by an attendant. “Dei! Balaji! Didn’t Periyava mention yesterday that they will be coming today? Are these not the same people?”

“Yes. My father and mother have

come!”

There is no need to write any further. The heart and mind will write it...

Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻