Nayana Day

O Lord!
You are always dwelling in my heart.
I am always lying at your feet.
You are my Lord who deputes me
and I am your servant who carries out your order.

Entirely yours,
Vasishta

Where is that Gita?

Sri Bhagavan said of this incident in his own words, 'In 1913, Nayana asked some questions and got the answers for them. As the ideas were strongly imprinted in his mind when somebody asked something, he would create a sloka extempore and say it is in Ramana Gita at such and such a place and in such a Chapter. All this was done when he did not even put pen on paper for Ramana Gita. When he started to speak authoritatively, nobody could counter him. He used to be quite emotional. After doing like this for a long time, he wrote this Gita [Ramana Gita] now.'

One devotee expressed a doubt, 'Bhagavan! What would Nayana have done if somebody asked, "Where is that Gita?"'

Bhagavan smiled and said, 'Who would have dared to oppose him or argue with him? Who was there who had such courage? His demeanor was so authoritative that none could counter him. After creating Ramana Gita also he used to quote some slokas extempore as examples and say they were also in Ramana Gita. When somebody pointed out that it is not, he would say it was in Maha Ramana Gita. Perhaps he planned Maha Ramana Gita also. But now it happened otherwise.'

~ Sri A. V. Ramana, Mahatapasvi, Life Story of Sri Kavya Kantha Ganapati Muni

One hundred years ago today ...

All generations of Ramana's disciples and devotees must remain indebted to Muni because it was for his sake and seeing his great spiritual hunger and ripeness that Ramana broke his silence of eleven years and gave the oral upadesa. This happened on the epoch-making day, on November 18, 1907. Since then, the relationship between Ramana and the Muni has been a model. Ramana used to affectionately call him "Nayana," which has several shades of meaning in Telegu. It is a term of endearment, it is a term by which one refers to one's father and to a disciple as well.

~ A. R. Natarajan, Timeless in Time, Sri Ramana Maharshi

Nayana Day

With the Maharshi's permission Ganapati left Arunachala in 1908 for Tiruvottiyur near Madras for performing tapas. He performed tapas in a Ganesa temple for eighteen days. On the last day he had a problem during the tapas and felt that it would be fine if the Maharishi were to give his darshan. He was asleep while being, wide awake. All of a sudden Ramana arrived there and sat by Ganapati's side. Surprised at this, Ganapati tried to get up but the Maharshi pressed him on the head and made him sit. Ganapati felt as if an electric current had passed through him. He took it to be initiation by hand (hasta- diksha).

Ever since 1896 the Maharshi never left Arunachala but how can anyone account for Ganapati's experience?

About twenty one years later, on 17 Oct 1929 to be precise, Ganapati narrated his experience to the Maharshi. The Maharshi also confirmed it, saying, "Several years ago I was resting at Virupaksha cave. I was not in samadhi. Yet I felt as if the body was floating in air. As the upward floating continued all material objects vanished from my sight, only white light was all around. Suddenly the body began descending and objects came into view. I thought this was what was meant by the disappearance and reappearance of those with occult powers (siddhas). It struck me that it was Tiruvottiyur and I walked along a main road. As I did so I noticed a Ganesa temple at a distance and I went in. I do not remember what I did or what I spoke. At that stage I woke up and found myself to be asleep at the Virupaksha cave. I narrated this experience at once to Palaniswami."

Ganapati in turn confirmed that the description of the Ganesa temple as given by the Maharshi was accurate.

~ from Sri Ramana Leela (http://ramanaleela.blogspot.com/2007/06/22-ganapati-muni.html)

Please see also: http://bhagavanramana.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-nayana-got-his-name.html

The Relisher of the Sweetness of Bhagavan's Life

I was struck again today by the way Ganapati Muni signed off his letters to Bhagavan. Here are some examples:

I am,
With my whole heart intent on you,
Ganapati

I am,
The Bee, Happy at your Holy Feet,
Ganapati

I am,
Ever bound to Your Holy Feet,
Ganapati

I am,
The Relisher of the Sweetness of Bhagavan's Life,
Vasishtha

I am,
Your devotee from the distant past,
Ganapati

~~~~~~~~~

The salutations are equally beautiful:

Lord, Great Leader of the Army Divine,

Lord, Assuming the form of Man is Sport,

Lord, Master of Prime Cause,

~~~~~~~

Here is one of the letters:

15 July 1931
Anandasrama
Lord, of Glorious Fame Auspicious,

Everything is alright here by the Grace of Bhagavan, on account of continuous rain all over here the days are somewhat dull; yet our hearts are evidently alert within as they are being transformed by some power prompted by Bhagavan. Though not a ray of the Sun is seen everywhere, we feel ourselves being in sun-light. We never forget that the chief cook in this great cooking (going on within us) is Bhagavan. And this occupation of Bhagavan carries no remuneration. In this scheme, there is a women working with Bhagavan. Who is she? She is none but the Mother Divine in Her dynamic aspect, Mother of sixth incarnation of Vishnu (Parasuram) who put down the tyranny of arrogant kings. There is the Master above, the mover of all devotees as well as the worldly-minded, the sole inspirer of the regenerate (Jnanis). We recollect Bhagavan's utterances here that He himself is the Heart, the source of all ego-sense. May He, by his cook, get the food of His choice cooked soon and eat it.

I am,
The food being cooked in the form of a man

~~~~~~~
Please see this wonderful site about Kavyakantha Sri Ganapati Sastri: http://kavyakantha.arunachala.org/