One Sri P.V. Venkataramana Rao, aged 83, often writes to me about my publications, mentioning about my indulgence in the propogation of the glory of Sri Raghavendra. He made an offering to donate his mite for my research on the subject, through letters as also when he met personally.
But I have been of the conviction that I should take up this task on my own, as a lifelong mission, without getting caught up in vortex of likes and dislikes, which has restrained me from acceptting any donations – a self-discipline that I have been observing for nearly three decades.When some one made suggestion indicating, ‘You may not be inclined to accept donations, but with the amount we give you the books published by you could be distributed free of cost to those who cannot afford to buy them, so that it may constitute a gift to them as from us’ such idea seemed to be a reasonable proposition. So, I started a record of notings indicating particulars about the recipient of the book, the date when it was given/despatched, its pros and feedback from the person concerned. This practice, besides causing in the donors the mental satisfaction of their having gifted for a worthy casue, enables free distribution of copies to the deserving readers – the devout ones – thus resulting also in acheivement of my cherised desire of not accepting any donation for the mission that I have taken on hand. In the ultimate analysis, in the spread of Raghavendra bhakti, all three – the donor, the beneficiary and I – get involved and become instrumental to it.
One Sri M.R. Bhandarkar, despite my strong disinclination to accept any benefication, has sent me a substantial amount as donatin for the purpose that I have on hand. His old, spacious house in Pune had remained unsold for a long time and by the grace of Sri Raghavendra, it could later be disposed of. On the account of his success in that bargain, he chose to send the amount to me for my divine mission.
’Since you are going to write about Gamdaki and Damodhar kund in Part VI by visitng those holy places, let this amount be used for that purpose. You can take it that I have arranged for the trip or otherwise consider that I have taken you there myself…’ he told me and after giving me deep thought to that matter, I accepted that offering, though hesitantly.
Visiting Damodhar kund is a costly affair and I accepted the monetary contribution given to me with the intutive awareness that Sri Guru Raghavendra Himself had arranged for it through Sri M.R. Bhandarkar. I have accordingly penned about Gandaki trip in Part VI, after journeying there. But my visit to Damodar Kunt got Materialized in 2009.
After the release of Part VI of Sri Ragavendra Mahimai, One Smt. Padmasini from Bangalore was in contact with me telephonically. She was often telling me, ‘Through you, a seva for Rayaru has to be accomplished, to fulfil my mother’s logging.’ When I asked her what it was, she said, ‘I have a land in Krishnagiri. It has to be sold now. Whether you sell it on my behalf or I myself complete the deal of that 600X400 plot, the sale proceeds should go to Rayaru…’
A few months later, she spoke again and said, ‘The Krishnagiri plot has been sold and the amount realized is kept with me at home. Please let me know how I should remit it to you, otherwise, will it be possible for you to come over here’?
Accepting Padmasini’s invitation, my wife and I went to her place and met her mother and sister at her house. Her Mother was 92 the. Padmasini had retired in a good position from the Dept. Of Power in Central government.
’This actually is an arrangement by my mother. After reading your book, I wanted to invite you here and entrust this responsibility to you and since my mother is already old, I sold the land myself with considerable difficulty and intensive efforts extending to over 6 months,…’ said Padmasini.
In 1979, when her friend had purchased land in Krishnagiri, Padmasini thought that she too could invest in one such housing plot and so had bought a piece of land there. Later, when she acquired a house in Bangalore in 1984, she had no inclination to construct another house in Krishnagiri and relocate there. Her mother however was often reminding her then of her heart’s desire.
’Amma, you don't have a son. If you had one, he would have certainly fulfilled your desire. Think of me as a son born to carry out your wishes. I shall definitely comply with what you have often been telling me…’ assured Padmasini to her mother.
In 1975-76, when they were living together at Ambur, Padmasini’s father had a dream one night. In the dream, Sri Raghavendra was seen standing near the well and asking, ‘I need a place, please give me one…,’ to which the former replied, ‘Where do I have the land to give you…’
’Yes, you do have. In Seerapalli, there is a land in your name. You can give that…, ‘ said Rayaru, the dream sequance breaking then.
Padmasini’s paternal side forebears, four generations before her father, were mittadars. Her grandfather’s siblings were eight in number. All of them were landed properties at various places. The land in Seerapalli in Rasipuram Taluk od Salem District came to ownership of Padmasini’s father, and his share of the family property.
After independence, when the Zamindari abolition came into effect, the family lost possession of many villages. In fact, whatever was left as the share of Padmasini’s father in Seerapalli, the family came to know of it only through the dream in which Rayaru had enlightened about it! Many beneficiaries under the Zamindari abolition scheme had given survey numbers and records and obtained the compensation settlement. But, Padmasini’s father could not move out of the house for nine years, due to illness. Besides, bereft of any male issues he had none to help him in looking after those affairs and he demised too, not long after.
Padmasini’s Mother, in her old age, shed tears and vented out, ‘Sri Raghavendra, with water streaming down his person and standing near the well, asked for a place and it has not been possible so far to make an offering of it to him. Who should go to Saarapalli and see the condition of that land now?’
’Let Amman Sathiyanathan be entrusted with that responsibility. Our seva to Sri Raghavendra can be accomplished through him’ said the mother.
As a sequel to this decision of elderly member of the family, the sale proceeds of land was handed over to me, which I placed in Fixed Deposit with a Bank. In the light of this experience , I prayed to Gururaja (Sri Guru Raghavendra) while on a hill top, to cause more and more devotees contact me like this for a performance of sevas to Sri Guru Raghavendra. Yes, in September 2007, in the mountain range called Cameron Highland, when journeying from Kuala Lumpur to Epo with Rajyohan I was immersed in thoughts about Sri Raghavendra, as rajyohan had to negotiate many bends in that drive and was all concentration on the road ahead.
I was pondering then that with such donations from willing devotees, something everlasting as a commemorative should be instituted and was praying to Sri Gururaja (Sri Guru Raghavendra) to show me the way for it. At this time, the words ‘Sri Raghavendra Granthalaya’started ringing in my ears as a divine guidance.
Later, on returning to Chennai, I consulted my auditor and some legal advisors and arrived at the decision that works on Sri Raghavendra could be established through ‘Sri Raghavendra Granthalaya’ and with the amount raised by such publication activity, supplemented by donation from devotees, a piece of land could be purchased within 50 km from Chennai to establish the Granthalaya or in the alternative, if any devotee should come forward to donate land for the purpose, to avail of such benefaction.
Sri Raghavendra’s birth itself was a blessed one – for the spread of the writings of the great ones. The mission of propogating the ancient scriptures (in the footsteps od Sri Madhawacharya, Sri Jayathirtha, Sri Vijayeendra and other preceptors), was bestowed on Sri Raghavendra by the Goddess of Learning, Sri Saraswathi devi herself, when she personally appeared before him and made him accept taking Sanyasa ashrama and abide by her divine guidance. Among the latent powers of Sri raghavendra, ‘Grantha Shakthi’or the power of his writings occupies the pride of place.
The Raghavendra Granthalaya to be set up should therefore serve as a model to reflect the exaltation of our ancient writings and accord with that concept the building too should be constructed aesthetically with panels containing inscriptions of scriptual messages that should reach masses.Those interested in this project can get in touch with me and make available their valuable contributions. The merits accuring out of participation in this effort will undoubtedly pass in to the successive generations. To devotees facing the problem of how they should me making their offering for Sri Raghavendra Sev, ‘Sri Raghavendra Grathalaya’ is an avenue shown by Sri Raghavendra himself.
Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha :
Sri Krishnarpanamasthu:
-Amman Sathiyanathan
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