Periyava : Does the Guru think of the sishya?

Does the Guru think of the sishya?

Sometimes, in my utter ignorance, I wonder, "I keep thinking of Periyava. Does Periyava think of me? There are lakhs of, crores of, billions of devotees for Him. Does he have the time to think of me?"

The mind knows that the Sarveshwara takes care of everyone and everything. However, the heart sometimes craves for some sign from the Dad and Mom that He is that He really is looking after us...

While I was thinking like this, a few articles and incidents came to my mind, which I thought were worth sharing here...

1. Dr. Sundararaman - the learned professor from Colombia :

whose interview is available in Sage of Kanchi site and who has written the book called " I lived with GOD". While the book itself is about the learned doctor's experiences and how Periyava took care of him in every single step of his life, at one place, Dr.Sundararaman says : "Periyava was talking to a group of devotees. He asked them, "I am now thinking of someone. But, that someone is not here. He has flown off to the US. That is Sundar". While saying this, one can almost see him weeping in gratitude. The God, thinking of mere mortals and talking about it to others...

2. Sri.Sri. Muralidhara Swamiji's recollection of Periyava:

Guruji talks about Periyava in almost every single upanyasam of His. There is one incident : Guruji was going for Periyava's darshan. While going in, he met a few telugu devotees, who asked him a few questions in telugu. Not knowing telugu, as He could guess the questions, He still managed to answer in English. As he went in to have darshan, there was a question in his mind : "we keep thinking of Periyava. Does Periyava keep thinking of us"?

He prostrated in front of Periyava. Periyava asked him : "As you came in, did you meet a few telugu people?" Guruji said "yes". Periyava continued : "Even though you did not know telugu, you could understand what they are asking". Guruji said "yes". Periyava continued : "But, as you did not know telugu, you answered in English, is it"? ("தெலுங்கு தெரியலைங்கறதால, Englishல பதில் சொன்னியாக்கும்!")

Guruji says : Very clearly, Periyava showed to me that He indeed keeps thinking about all His devotees...

3. Ramana Maharishi and "Mor Kuzambu"

This is an incident I came across in the stories about Maharishi. One of his very close devotees was living a little away from the Ramanashramam. One day, there was "Mor Kuzambu" prepared in the Ashram during the meal time.

Ramana Maharishi, while eating, asked one of the attendants to take a little of the mor kuzambu and go give it to the devotee. Ramana Maharishi said " he loves Mor Kuzambu ("அவனுக்கு, மொர் குழம்புன்னா ரொம்பப் பிடிக்கும்!")

The attendant went to the devotee's place and gave the Mor Kuzambu. The puzzled devotee asked why is this being given to him. When the attendant explained that Maharishi personally asked it to be given it to him, the devotee felt ecstatic. He took the Mor Kuzambu jar, put it on his head and started dancing "my gurunathar thought of me", "My gurunathar remembered me", "My gurunathar has sent this to me"...

I am sure there would be thousands of examples which illustrate how very much the Guru thinks of His sishyas and How our Periyava keeps thinking about all of us and How He takes care of all of us.

Still, the ignorance is there. The longing is there. While the head understands the Periyava is there everywhere, the heart still wants to see Him right in front...to ask Him, "Ummachi thatha, ninga engalai ninaichipelo?" ("உம்மாசித் தாத்தா, நீங்க எங்களை நினைச்சுப்பேளோ?") We write whatever we feel about you...do you read them? Do you like them? ("மனசுல பட்டதையெல்லாம் எழுதறோம். நீங்க அதையெல்லாம் படிப்பேளோ? உங்களுக்குப் பிடிக்குமோ?")

It is obvious that we do what we do because He has ordained it. Things happen because He has willed it. But, the childish ignorance to ask Him also looks OK..whom else can we ask? Whom else can we be so very free with? Whom else can we go to?

Periyava Charanam.