Life History of H.H. Sri Swamiji 162 Pulihora(2) From the time Swamy entered into the ashrama at Kesere, he tried constantly to remove the airs and graces in the attitude of both the Sudras and Brahmins(3). The elders in both the groups did not like the interference by Swamy in this issue. Swamy was aware of this feeling. The leaders did not have the courage to face Swamy and question him on this issue. But, if they did not do anything about it and kept quiet, they would lost their respect in their own community. So, some of them encouraged a lady devotee of Swamy. She was from a lower class but for the past 2-3 generations her family had been financially in a better position. There is a saying from a famous Andhra Poet "Sumanthi," "The one who has money is a king, oh, you learned one, know this truth". She was a good person by nature and exhibited obedience in front of Swamy. She had invited Swamy to her house few times and had conducted Pada Pooja as well. On being instigated by the elders in her community, she invited Swamy once more to her house for Pada Pooja and Swamy accepted the invitation. She made a special request for Swamy to come early in the morning. She had a particular plan in mind for having asked Swamy to come early. Swamy was very particular in observing certain principles. Whenever he was conducting the homa or pooja, the householders and those who cooked the food that day must be wearing wet clothes, and follow all the rules of "Madi". Until the "Anusthana(4)" in the afternoon, Swamy would not take anything by mouth. Those were his rules in those days. Swamy went to her house as promised. She had prepared Pulihora for prasadam, had kept it in a large bowl and covered it with a leaf. As soon as Swamy arrived, she said, "Swamy, I have prepared the pulihora with my own hands for you. Please accept it and bless me." Swamy said, "Why not, let us start the pooja first." "Pooja should not matter for persons like you. If you take a spoonful of it, I know that I will be blessed forever. Why then the ritual of the pooja?" She commented. She said, I will put these flowers on your feet." "Swamy gave her a look of surprise. Mum, he said to her, "You may consider that you are conducting my pooja. But in view, Pada pooja for me is what I consider as the pooja for my Guru. It is my daily routine. Thinking that you were going to conduct it, I came early this morning to your house. You know that I do not take anything by mouth till the pooja is completed. Let us therefore start the pooja first." Patiently Swamy gave her the explanation. She gave a sarcastic smile and said, "You are trying to find ways of getting out of the situation, are n't you?" "Well said," commented her friends standing nearby." "How did you get that doubt?" Swamy asked her. "It was not a doubt. I knew you would do so," she replied. "OK, Serve me the food then, I will eat it now," Swamy put his hand forward. Feeling proud of having achieved victory, she went to the bowl, took the leaf out and while looking at Swamy, placed her right hand in to take the food to serve Swamy. She pulled her hand out immediately as though it had received an electric shock. "What is it?" She shouted. The bowl was full of lilies. She had gone pale. "Serve me, Swamy ordered her" She was shaking from head to foot. "You made me put my hand out for food. Give me something. If not you and your family will suffer." "Pardon me," she repeated it three times. "The mistakes committed unknowingly can be pardoned. Upasakas and yogis do follow certain rules concerning the food they take. You did this deliberately. Our rules do not depend upon the caste of the person; they depend only on our observance of principles. You were aware of this. You are of late middle age and you have no children. You have wealth but no one inherit it. Probably the elders in your community who encouraged you may take care of you. Or, who knows, let us see, if they come to your rescue when you are in distress due to loneliness." Swamy was not shouting but very firm in each word he spoke. Everyone was shocked. Swamy continued, "I still wish for your welfare. Let no harm come to you," saying so, Swamy placed a packet of vibhooti in her hand and walked out. On the way out, he counted his steps loudly, "One, two, three, four" and repeated it several times. No one understand the reason. After this episode Swamy became withdrawn for quiet a while. The next Sunday, after the homa he expressed his grief openly. "Those who received the benefits are criticising me now. Those who are profitting are disturbing my sleep. those who call me "Mahatma" are testing me. This place is not worth it. However much I offer the efforts of my tapas into this place, it is still not becoming "Satvic". Thinking that it was large enough, Ganapathi decided to come here on a temporary basis. Weekly thousands are coming and getting relief from their distress and suffering. I am telling all of them to find a new place for the ashrama. I have not requested them to give it free. I am prepared to buy a suitable land. Not even one father or mother here showed any dedication to find a suitable place for the ashrama. If a neighbour hurts your child, will you keep quiet? If he scolds your child, will you not get hurt? Am I not one of your children? How long I have to bear this telling off?" Swamy openly cried bitterly in front of about 3000 devotees that day.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacredlifeofswamiji/ This Yahoo group contains the complete story from the beginning . Satyam, or Satyanarayana referred to here was Sri Swamiji's name as a child. Later references to Swamy are to Him as well. It describes in detail Sri Swamiji's relationship with Ganapathi, His upanayanam, great compassion, commitment to Dharma, His actions demonstrating and other miraculous incidents. Jaya Guru Datta In Datta Seva Hanuman www.dattapeetham.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Dying to be thin? Anorexia. Narrated by Julianne Moore. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AQDrNC/sbOLAA/d1hLAA/0NYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
