In the following interactions with Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Godchild, Tiruvannamalai, we could get a glimpse of the resistance to Sadhu Rangarajan’s editorial introducing Ma Devaki; How Yogiji supported Sadhu’s views; the meeting of Swami Satchidananda and Yogi Ramsuratkumar during the commencement of the Ashram construction work; and the circumstances under which Yogiji asked Sadhuji to take over the responsibility of the Ashram Trust.
This is extracted from a chapter from Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s biography by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan named “Glimpses of a Great Yogi”. The full document is available here sribharatamatamandir.org/word/?page_id=412
GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI–II —The Deekshaa Guru as Seen by the Shishya
by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan
CHAPTER 38 – BHAGAVAN DEFENDS SADHU AND COMMANDS TO TAKE CHARGE OF ASHRAM
Sadhu Rangarajan’s editorial “The Eternal Slave” in TATTVA DARSANA, Yogi Ramsuratkumar 76th Jayanti Issue, provoked the trustees of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram Trust who could not digest Bhagavan’s declaration of Ma Devaki as His ‘Eternal Slave’ and the act of His principal disciple writing an editorial hailing Bhagavan’s decision. On the day Sadhuji returned from Tiruvannamalai after the grand Ramnam Satsang of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association, on Monday, January 3, 1994, when Bhagavan made the devotees who had gathered in His abode read repeatedly the editorial, the trustees expressed severe criticism in the presence of Bhagavan and He vehemently defended His disciple by emphatically declaring that it was He who had written the editorial through His disciple.
Young, a follower of Lee Lozowick, in his biography, “Yogi Ramsuratkumar Under the Punnai Tree” narrates the heated discussions that took place on that day:
“In early January there was a meeting at Sudama House between the ashram trustees and Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Several devotees were there, including Mani and his wife, Raji. The ashram project already had momentum but a number of devotees were inflamed by the editorial written by Sadhu Rangarajan and refused to support the author’s decision to accept Devaki as “eternal slave” and closest companion of Yogi Ramsuratkumar.
Bhagavan read through the editorial and a heated argument ensued. Yogi Ramsuratkumar was furious. He told the trustees that he had asked Rangarajan to write the article; it was only done at his instruction. They objected to the photograph that had been taken of Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Devaki in the fall of 1993 on the ashram property, also printed in Tattva Darsana. They challenged the master, saying that they would not accept the photograph of the beggar with Devaki; furthermore they refused to show the respect to her that Bhagawan had indicated was appropriate, nor would they allow her to live in the ashram.
“No!” Yogi Ramsuratkumar shouted at the trustees, reflecting their anger back on them. “Then let us not have ashram! Why are you building an ashram for this womanizer? You go and find somebody else as your guru and make an ashram for that man!” Yogi Ramsuratkumar shouted in a holy fury. It was like the roaring of a lion, and Sudhama House trembled from the power of it.
Suddenly he turned to Mani and said, “What do you think of this, Mani?”
“You are the creator of this episode and you are going to be the solver. It is all your lila, Bhagawan,” Mani answered.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar turned to another devotee and said, “What do you think?”
“You are a tall tree. Tall trees always fall first,” he answered. People were crying and many of the devotees didn’t dare to speak at all. Mani’s wife, Raji, recounted:
He was asking everybody about Devaki Ma. I was so scared that Bhagawan was going to ask me next. What to answer? I didn’t want to answer what he would ask me. I thought, “If he asks Rajalakshmi, what should I answer? I don’t know, and I’m so scared!” So, I was praying to Bhagavan, “Please, Bhagavan, don’t ask me any difficult questions – just simple questions.” Everyone was leaving the house when Bhagawan said to me, “Rajalakshmi, you stay back.” Everybody went out. There were two parrots there. He asked me this question: “What is this?”
“Parrots, Bhagawan,” I said.
“Okay”, He answered. It was a simple question. He had answered my prayer!
A week or so after this Rajalakshmi sent a gift to Yogi Ramsuratkumar with the message, “Appa, how is Amma?” meaning, “Father, how is Mother?” When Yogi Ramsuratkumar received the gift and read the message, he was ecstatic; someone had stepped forward in support of what many people had overlooked – from the beginning, since September 1993, Yogi Ramsuratkumar had said, “My Father wants Devaki for his work.” Reading the letter, he exclaimed “Oh, here is a person who accepted this beggar as appa and Devaki as amma! This is the spirit this beggar wants from everybody. When this beggar says something, you should accept it as it is!” He was constantly teaching and demonstrating surrender to the will of God, and in the relationship with the guru, surrender begins with obedience.”
[Yogi Ramsuratkumar Under the Punnai Tree, Pages 391-392]
On Monday, January 24, Sri Vasu made a phone call from Tiruvannamalai conveying Master’s command to represent Him in the Shataabhishekam celebration of Smt. Rajalakshmi’s father, Sri Srinivasa Iyengar. Sadhuji attended the function at Nanganallur on Thursday, January 27.
On Friday morning, February 4, Sadhuji, accompanied by Smt. Valliammai Achi, proceeded to Tiruvannamalai by car and reached Bhagavan’s abode in the forenoon. Master received the sadhu and made him sit by His side. He asked the sadhu: “Rangaraja, have you any TATTVA DARSANA copies to spare?” Sadhu replied, “I have only fifteen copies with me, Bhagavan.” Bhagavan told Devaki, “Devaki, Rangaraja is left with 15 copies only.” Devaki clarified that Sadhuji had a lot, but brought only 15 as Vasu had told him that there were enough with her. She suggested to Sadhu to send some more copies through Mani. Bhagavan was looking at Sadhu and raised His hand in blessing. Some MLA came and then some officials of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Board came with Sri Ramachandra Upadhyaya. Bhagavan asked Sadhu to give a talk on Ramnam for fifteen minutes. Sometime after Sadhu’s talk, Bhagavan asked him again to talk introducing Devaki. Sadhu complied with Bhagavan’s order. At 12 noon, Bhagavan asked Devaki to distribute Prasad to all. She did so and then prostrated to Sadhu and took his blessing. Bhagavan then took Sadhu and Devaki inside.
Sadhu spoke to Bhagavan about some problem of Valliammai Achi and He gave counselling to her. After she and two other devotees left, lunch was served to Bhagavan and Sadhu. While taking food, Devaki asked Sadhu whether he received the report from Mani about the developments on January 3 after Sadhu left Bhagavan. Sadhu said, “Yes”. Devaki remarked that she also told Bhagavan that if those who criticized the editorial had seen the ‘He’ in it with capital ‘H’, they would have understood it. She added, “Bhagavan can’t go up, He has to come down.”
After lunch, Sadhu showed Bhagavan the letter from Lee Lozowick, about which Sadhu had referred to in his talk. He read it out and Bhagavan clarified that the Mantra, “Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” must be sung in full. Devaki, referring to Master’s clarification to Om Prakash Yogini, said that, as far as the chant, “Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Jaya Guru Raya” was concerned, it was equal to four counts of Ramnam mantra. Devaki gave to Sadhu, the poetic epistles from Lee Lozowick to Bhagavan. Sadhu read out a letter from Sri Ananda Rao. Bhagavan replied: “You may write to him that those who chant ‘Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram’ will not be affected by any disease – American or coming from Europe. Devaki asked whether the same effect will not be there for Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s name, Bhagavan interrupted and said, “‘Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram’ is to be propagated, Let them do it.” Then Bhagavan gave a long discourse on Ramnam, quoting Charaka, “Achyutaananda Govinda naamocchaarana bheshajaaat, nasyanti sakalaa rogaa, satyam satyam vadaamyaham!” (अच्युतानन्त गोविन्द नामोच्चारणभेषजात्। नश्यन्ति सकला रोगाः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्॥) He also quoted Tulsidas, saying Ramnam turned even Bhang into Tulasi (नामु राम को कलपतरु कलि कल्यान निवासु। जो सुमिरत भयो भाँग तें तुलसी तुलसीदासु ॥26॥).
Devaki wanted to record Bhagavan’s talk to the sadhu on a tape recorder, but He prevented her, telling, “This tape recording will interrupt my work. When I tell, that is intended to go into him through his ears and come out through his mouth. It is not to be reproduced by a tape recorder. It has its effect only when it comes through the one to whom it is told.”
Bhagavan showed Sadhu the letter of Rajagopal and tour programme of Swami Satchidananda and said: “This Beggar would like Rangaraja to be present on the occasion of the foundation stone laying of the Ashram by Swami Satchidananda on 26th. That will be of great help to this Beggar. Your presence will be very much helpful.” Sadhu assured Bhagavan that he will telephone to Swami Satchidananda and fix up a plan to accompany the Swami when he comes to Tiruvannamalai from Chennai. Bhagavan commanded Sadhu to do so.
Devaki asked Bhagavan and Sadhu to take some rest and they did so. At the time of evening tea, Sadhu discussed with Bhagavan about Gnanaprakasham and Bhagavan asked Sadhu to continue his help to him. Bhagavan turned to Devaki and took up again the topic of the editorial in TATTVA DARSANA and the sudden change that it had wrought: “When people were talking so much things about Devaki and this Beggar, Rangaraja wrote the editorial and it changed the whole atmosphere. What a great service he has done!” He then asked the sadhu how he could give so many copies free and Sadhu replied that it was all by His Grace.
Bhagavan was talking to us as to how suffering brought people closer to God. He referred to Kunti and Draupadi – how they prayed for more suffering. Earlier, Sadhu placed before Him the bags given by Nivedita and He thanked her while Devaki said Nivedita had so thoughtfully got these for the Sudama sisters. Bhagavan enquired about the marriage of Pankaj, son of T.S. Sinha of Allahabad, with Deepti and gave His blessings to them for a happy married life and to Sri Sinha for his recovery. He also blessed Sadhu for his successful tour of U.P.
At 4.00 PM, we came out into the verandah. Devotees, especially some western disciples of Sri Poonjaji, came. Bhagavan asked Sadhu to speak and Devaki suggested that Sadhu could speak in English. Sri Rajan, DSP, and some other guests also arrived. Sadhu addressed them in English and spoke on Ramnam. Bhagavan blessed Sadhu. Swami Mathurananda came. Devaki and other devotees sang some songs. Bhagavan, speaking on the glory of Ramnam, said that even Kabir, a nirguna upasaka, chanted Ramnam. A gentleman asked Bhagavan which was the best path – Karma, Gnana or Bhakti – and Bhagavan replied, “First one has to fix a goal and then seek the path whichever is suited to him.”
Yogiji asked Swami Mathurananda whether he had visited Sadhu’s place. Mathurananda replied, “Yes, I have visited Sadhu’s place twice.” Yogiji spent some time discussing about America’s attempt to unleash vengeance on India. He said, “India was non-aligned. Nehru never wanted war. Russia supported India, but America thought that India was supporting Russia. So, now that Russia is disintegrated, America as the sole super-power wants to wreak vengeance on India, but they won’t succeed. They are afraid that India will emerge as a super-power. Aurobindo has predicted it.” Sadhuji intervened and referred to the talk of Sri Aurobindo on August 15, 1948, from All India Radio, Tiruchirapally Station, and the prediction of Nostradamus. Bhagavan continued: “Yes, India will emerge successful. As Rangaraja said, this is the land of Rishis.” Mathurananda recalled Yogi’s long wait in front of Papa, standing in rain, though Papa wanted Him to go away. Bhagavan recalled: “Papa wanted this Beggar to go away, but this Beggar wanted to be by His side. But He didn’t allow. It was given to Swami Satchidananda to be by His side. Rangaraja has written that he got consolation because Papa never allowed this Beggar to meet Him again whereas this Beggar has allowed Rangaraja to meet this Beggar.” Bhagavan turned to Rangaraja and asked, “Rangaraja, do you feel that this Beggar has sent you away from this Beggar because He has taken Devaki with Him?” Sadhuji replied: “No, never Master. I feel Your presence all the time.” Bhagavan continued: “Papa is also with this Beggar from 1952. He has never been away from this Beggar. So also, this Beggar is ever with Rangaraja.” Devaki pointed out that Bhagavan felt to speak so because of Sadhu’s reference to it in TATTVA DARSANA.
Swami Mathurananda said that, after forty years, three brothers were meeting together, referring to himself joining Yogiji and Swami Satchidananda on February 26. Bhagavan immediately interrupted: “We will be four. You have to include Rangaraja also. He is doing Papa’s work and we are four.” Mathurananda remarked: “He is Your shadow and is always with You.” Bhagavan responded: “Yes, this Beggar is always with Rangaraja and he is always with this Beggar.”
Bhagavan showed Satchidananda’s letter to Devaki on the celebration of her birthday on 4th January and said, “She was born in 1952 and this Beggar died in 1952.” When Mathurananda referred to the danda of Sadhu as a stick, Devaki said, it was not stick, but danda. While offering Prasad to Sadhu, she prostrated four times in the Iyengar Brahminical tradition. Bhagavan spoke about Lee’s high realization expressed in his poems. He asked Mathurananda to take supper with us. While taking food, Bhagavan thrust chapattis and sabji into Sadhu’s plate and instructed Prabha that she should obey Him and put more into Sadhu’s plate even if he were to waste it. Sadhu finished everything that was put into his plate with the help of butter milk. Devaki smiled and pointed out to Bhagavan that nothing was wasted by the sadhu and Bhagavan laughed.
Bhagavan presented to Sadhu the book of poems by T.P. Meenakshisundaram and He also signed some copies of TATTVA DARSANA issue to be preserved in Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Research Centre library. While taking leave of Bhagavan, Sadhuji assured Him that he will speak to Swami Satchidananda about his accompanying the Swamy to Tiruvannamalai, and also to Sri Poonjaji about meeting him during the U.P. visit of the sadhu.
On Friday, February 25, in the morning, Sadhuji joined Swami Satchidananda in his journey to Tiruvannamalai and they, along with devotees, left for Bhagavan’s abode in three cars and a van. Sadhuji first reached Sudama and was told Bhagavan was in Ramanashram. He immediately went there and Bhagavan received him with His usual blessings. Swami Satchidananda also reached there in another car. For the first time after forty years of physical separation, the two great souls were meeting. They touched each other’s feet and hugged each other in great joy. Devaki prostrated to the Swami and he reciprocated. Hundreds of devotees were there to witness these scenes. Bharati also reached there in another car. Sri Mani of Ramanashram took us all to the dining hall and we had dinner there. Later, all of us assembled in the guesthouse and spent some time. Vivek had also reached there in the evening itself. Sadhuji and Bharati stayed with him in Sri Sundararaman’s house.
On the auspicious day of the laying of foundation stone of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram, Saturday, February 26, 1994, Sadhuji arrived in the early morning at the Ashram site where Bhagavan, Devaki, and Swami Satchidananda were also waiting for him to start the ceremonies. After the homa, the foundation stone plaque was unveiled by Swami Satchidananda. Swami Chakrananda and Swami Virabhadrananda of Salem also joined us. After the homa, we came to Sudama for breakfast. Bhagavan asked Sadhu to give a talk on Ramnam and the World Ramnam Movement in the presence of Swami Satchidananda. Before Sadhu started his speech, Bhagavan told Swami Satchidananda, “This Beggar never gave initiation to anyone, but He gave Rangaraja the initiation into the Ramnam Taraka Mantra. When Rangaraja asked this Beggar what he should do from then on, this Beggar asked him to spread the work of Mataji Krishnabai. Rangaraja took it seriously and has put his heart and soul into the work.” Swamiji asked Sadhu about the progress of the work. Bhagavan told the Swami that it has spread to Africa, America, Europe and Australia. Sadhu told Swamiji about the appointment of Sri Krishna Carcelle as International Convener of Ramnam Movement and his work in France. Master was all praise for the sadhu’s work and then He asked him to speak. After Sadhu’s speech, Bhagavan blessed Sadhu. Sadhu sought the blessings of Bhagavan and Swami Satchidananda for the success of the worldwide efforts to spread the cause and both of them blessed. Swamiji also promised to address the workers of the movement at Chennai. Dr. Radhakrishnan, President of YRYA, also was present when Sadhuji spoke. Sadhuji told Swami Satchidananda how Bhagavan had insisted that Sadhu should concentrate fully on the Ramnam movement. He also narrated that after his earlier tour of U.P., when he met Bhagavan on November 19, last year, Bhagavan insisted that Sadhu should stay with Him for a night in Sudama and He discussed with Sadhu His decision to keep Devaki with Him as His ‘Eternal Slave’. Sadhu narrated the whole incident of the night and said, just as Papa wanted Yogiji to be away from Him, Bhagavan wanted the sadhu also to be away from Him, doing His work. When Sadhuji quoted Master’s words, “Papa didn’t allow this Beggar to be by His side and it was given to Swami Satchidananda to serve Him”, Master laughed. Swami Satchidananda immediately remarked, “Papa had given foreign portfolio to Yogiji and home affairs to me; so also Yogiji has given home to Devaki and foreign affairs to you”. When Sadhuji told that he had no urge to be physically present by the side of the Master and he felt the Master’s presence all the time by his side, Swami Satchidananda said: “Father and son are one!”
After breakfast, Bhagavan, Swamiji, Devaki, Sadhuji and all others moved once again to the Ashram site for a public meeting under the presidentship of Swami Satchidananda. Sri S.P. Janardanan welcomed all and Swami Satchidananda gave a short benedictory address. Sadhuji spoke for thirty minutes on greatness of Guru, Bharatavarsha, Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Ramnam, and also on the need for discipline and effacement of ego on the part of devotees. He also spoke about Devaki and appealed to all to participate in the Ramnam movement. Swami Chakrananda, Perumal Raja, Sri T.V. Venkatraman, and Sri Om Prakash Yogini also spoke. After the programme, Bhagavan, Swamiji, Sadhu, Devaki, Vijayalakshmi and other distinguished guests including Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan came to Sudama for lunch.
After the lunch, Swamiji and Sadhu took some rest while Bhagavan was busy discussing about the building plan with Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan, Sow. Vijayalakshmi, Sri Sundararaman and the architect Sri Ravi. In the afternoon, Swami Satchidanandaji visited an orphanage and he wanted Bhagavan to join him. Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan jovially remarked that Bhagavan had not become an orphan and all burst into laughter. There was a second round of discussion about the building plan and Bhagavan asked Sadhu to join. Anjaneyulu excused himself from participating in it while Janardhanan spoke of interference in the construction work. Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan spoke very plain words. Mani and Sundararaman clarified that their work was only to advise and not to interfere. They were asked to discuss the matter with Anjaneyulu. Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan pointed out that the foundation was not yet laid and only the plaque was unveiled. S.P. Janardhanan remarked that they did not know how to do it. Sadhuji told Bhagavan that Vivek was completing his M.E. and he could offer his services. Devaki jovially said that it will be third interference. Bhagavan asked Vivek when he will be free and Vivek replied that he would be free as soon as he finished his thesis work.
At 3.30 PM all assembled in the meeting site. Sri V. Jayaraman of CIT, Madras, Pon Kamaraj, and Prof. Karunakaran spoke. There was Ramnam chanting and Bhajans. Sri D.S. Sivaramakrishnan, Sri D.S. Ganeshan, Sri Seetharaman and others of YRYA joined. Bhagavan came a little later. There was some dance programme by disciples of Padma Subramaniam. After the programme Bhagavan retired to Sudama. He asked Sadhu whether he would stay with Him, but Sadhu said, he will take rest in Sundararaman’s house with Vivek and Bharati and took leave of Bhagavan.
Sunday, February 27, 1994, turned out to be a red letter day in the life of Sadhu Rangarajan. Only on the previous day, in the presence of Swami Satchidananda and Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Sadhuji spoke about Bhagavan’s command to him to concentrate on His work of spreading Ramnam in various parts of the country and abroad and Swami Satchidananda also remarked jovially that Bhagavan had given home affairs to Devaki and foreign affairs to Sadhu. Sadhuji could not believe that the developments on this day could take such a sudden turn to make Bhagavan announce that Sadhuji should stop all his work outside and remain in Tiruvannamalai taking charge of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram work. The developments began in the early morning when Swami Satchidananda and Bhagavan met again in Sudama and Sadhu also joined them over a cup of coffee prepared by Devaki. Swamiji was taking leave of Bhagavan. Bhagavan, like a child moved by emotion, laid His head on the lap of the Swami and the Swami put His hand around the shoulder of Bhagavan. Sadhuji prayed to the Swami to come again to Tiruvannamalai for a Ramnam convention in the presence of Bhagavan and He agreed. Swamiji later took leave of Bhagavan. Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan had already left on the previous day itself. Sow Vijayalakshmi, Rajalakshmi, Viji Akka, and Devaki’s sister Yasoda also took leave. The previous day, Devaki had told that she had asked her sister to find her own accommodation, but Swami Satchidananda remarked that Yasoda and Devaki both were with Maser. When Yasoda told Master how she was proud that her “own” sister had taken to spiritual life, Devaki cajoled her for the word “own”. However, Master blessed her by calling her, “This Beggar’s own Yasoda”.
After breakfast, Sadhuji took the permission of Bhagavan to leave with Justice Arunachalam to Chennai and he got ready for the journey. By then, Mani came and told Bhagavan that Sri S.P. Janardanan and Sri Anjaneyulu have refused to have any consultation with him and Sundararaman about the plan of the construction of the Ashram. Bhagavan was a little upset and He asked Vasu to bring two autos and, accompanied by Devaki, Prabha, Mani, Sundararaman and Vasu, He left for Ramanashram. He asked Sadhu to wait in Sudama to receive Justice Arunachalam. The justice, his brother Dr. Ramanathan, Justice Sadayappan, and Sherishthadar Mohan came and Sadhu spent some time with them. By then, Bhagavan returned from Ramanashram. He said, Anjaneyulu had refused to come to Sudama for talks and therefore we would have to meet him and others at the Ashram site. He said, both Anjaneyulu and S.P. Janardhanan were determined to leave the trust and S.P. Janardhanan had made it clear that if Anjaneyulu leaves he would also leave. Bhagavan said that the construction work of the Ashram should not be stopped on any account and said, “If necessary this Beggar would ask Sundararaman to resign his job” and asked him whether he would obey. Sundararaman readily agreed. Bhagavan asked Vasu and Prabha whether they had any objection and they said, they will gladly agree to Sundararaman resigning his job for Bhagavan’s work.
Vasu went to Ramanashram to call S.P. Janardhanan to the Ashram site and the latter agreed to come there by 10.00 AM. Bhagavan asked Justice Arunachalam also to come with Him, Devaki and Sadhu to the Ashram site to discuss with S.P. Janardhanan. Sri S.P. Janardhanan, A.V. Ramamoorthy, Raghu and Parthasarathy came there. Justice Arunachalam tried to convince S.P. Janardhanan and Anjaneyulu to continue the work, but they refused. Anjaneyulu asked Justice whether he would allow anyone else to sit on his seat, and S.P. Janardanan said, even if Anjaneyulu agreed to remain, he would like to quit. Bhagavan became very serious and unhesitatingly He asked S.P. Janardhanan to resign. He ordered, “You submit your resignation right now. We have to appoint a new trustee.” S.P. Janardhanan agreed and presented his resignation letter, agreeing to hand over the trust to anyone chosen by Bhagavan. Master asked others who were with Sri Janardhanan whether they would cooperate and they replied, in the absence of Janardhanan, they could not.
Bhagavan turned to Sadhuji suddenly and ordered in a firm voice: “This Beggar wants Rangaraja to take over as Trustee. Rangaraja, have you any objection?” Though the command was most unexpected, Sadhuji promptly replied, “Master, whatever command you give, I will obey Maharaj.”
Bhagavan continued, “Well. Is one sufficient or we can have more trustees? Can we have five?”
Sadhu replied, “We can have more, Bhagavan.”
Bhagavan said, “Then Sundararaman and Mani could also join. Who can be the others? Arunachalam…?”
Justice Arunachalam said that he being a sitting judge, he could not be a trustee. He would suggest his wife’s name and that of his brother, Dr. Ramanathan. Later he said, it is not proper to have two from the same family and dropped the name of his wife. Sri Sundararaman still in service could not be a trustee and hence his wife Prabha was chosen. Master said four trustees were enough for the time being– Sadhu Rangarajan, Sri N.S. Mani, Smt. Prabha Sundararaman and Dr. T.S. Ramanathan.
Bhagavan with Devaki, Sadhu, Justice Arunachalam and other devotees returned to Sudama. Justice Arunachalam asked Bhagavan about the developments: “What is this leela?” Bhagavan laughed and replied: “Yesterday you saw the dance Krishna leela and today you ask me what is this.” He burst again into laughter.
Sadhuji remarked that it was like changing of scenes. One set of actors come in one scene and another set in another scene. He added that this work was not an easy one. He explained how Sri Eknath Ranade struggled hard to build the grand memorial on Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari, his effort, and the dedication put in by him and the nationwide campaign for collecting funds. Sadhu added, setting up of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram also required a lot of planning and effort and it would become a mighty national monument. Bhagavan interrupted and asked: “National or International?” Sadhu immediately corrected himself: “International!”
After lunch, Master continued the discussions. He said, “I would like Rangaraja to stop all work including Ramnam campaign for the time being. He can do something to have the Ramnam accounts to be directly sent by the conveners of the Ramnam Movement to Swami Satchidananda.” Sadhuji said: “The Ramnam work would not affect my work for the Ashram, Maharaj. It is only once in a month that we send the accounts and it could be arranged to be sent directly. Moreover all these Ramnam workers and committees in the international level will only help us in spreading the trust’s work and in the collection campaign for the trust.” Master replied: “Ah, that’s good. Thank you!” He raised His hands and blessed Sadhu.
When the time came for all to disperse, Bhagavan said: “I want Rangaraja to stay on here and others, I will leave.” Sadhuji asked Bhagavan’s permission to send Bharati with Justice Arunachalam to Chennai. Bhagavan agreed and said, Vivek could also go with them. Sadhuji said, Vivek had to return to Chidambaram and he would go in the evening. Bhagavan said “Alright.” Sadhu gave instructions to Bharati to arrange to send his clothes and she left with justice. Later, Master asked Sadhu to sit with Mani and Sundararaman to discuss further plans. Sadhu went with Mani and Sundararaman to Mani’s house and then to Ashram site. After discussing with them about the plans, Sadhu returned to Bhagavan and reported to Him about the discussions. Bhagavan asked Sadhu how long he could stay. Sadhu replied: “As long as You want, Master. My whole time is at Your disposal.” Master blessed Sadhu. He asked Panchapakeshan to arrange for Sadhu’s accommodation in Seshadri Swami Ashram.
On Wednesday, August 25, 1993, Sadhuji accompanied by N.S. Mani, Shriram Naik, Rajni Bagve and Diana, proceeded to Tiruvannamalai and reached there in the evening. As Bhagavan had gone to take rest by the time they reached His abode, on Thursday, we reached Bhagavan’s abode by 10.00 AM. There was a big crowd already there. As soon as Master came out, He called Sadhu and his group inside. Devaki, Rosoura and others also followed. We were seated in the verandah. Bhagavan went inside and He brought Lee’s poetic epistles and asked Sadhu to read them. Sadhu read them one by one. Bhagavan remarked: “He writes beautiful poems. They are so simple that they could be understood by all. He must be given a Nobel Prize for his poems. This Beggar did not preserve the early letters, but when you started TATTVA DARSANA, this Beggar started preserving them and handing them over to you.” Sadhu told Bhagavan that the typesetting work of the poems was progressing and Lee himself was sponsoring the book. Bhagavan said: “You write to him on behalf of this Beggar that he should write a brief introduction in prose.” Sadhu said, he would do so. Bhagavan added that we could have used his English translation of his French introduction to a work, but it might involve copy right problem.
Yogi Ramsuratkumaram Vande 