6.

Balu Mama- Part Two

SABARIMALA YATRA
We lived in Mylapore then. Every morning and evening, twice a day, I would go to the Kaplwara
temple for iva daran. Periyava would have bouts of pain in his chest. Ramakrishnaiyer, the
homeopath he was not a doctor - would consult his Homeopathy dictionary and give some small
white pills that looked like lizards eggs. Periyava would take the pills for two days or so and then
would find some relief. That was the time when Ayyappa and Sabarimala were becoming popular.
Crowds dressed in black dhoti would come to the temple. We associate black clothes with Di Ka 1, so
I was puzzled. I made enquiries and one of them said, Oh, dont you know! We are going to
Sabarimala. Such a powerful diety! Those without children are blessed with children. The sick are
healed! Verily a living god1
I was then a youngster and had great faith. That was thirty-five years ago. So I vowed to make a
pilgrimage to Sabarimala so that Periyava may be cured of his bouts of pain in the chest. I went to
Periyava and said, I am going to Sabarimala. I have taken a vow. Periyava must bless me and give
me his blessings.
What Sabarimala? What this sudden desire? Why go to places when you are with me? Why ask
me?
I have already made a vow and must fulfill it. Periyava must be gracious.
Periyava took a piece of cloth and flung it on me. Earlier those that went to Sabarimala wore white
dhotis. Brahmins did not drink or eat meat. Going to Sabarimala therefore did not demand any
special rigour. Wearing black is a recent habit. It was started because those that eat meat and drink
throughout the year, wore it as a sign of repentance. You need not. When you go into the temple you
may drape this towel around you. There is one more thing. You must do as I say. You must buy one
hundred lemons and carry it in a sling bag. You must not eat anything except this fresh lemon. You
must not make juice from it, but eat it raw.
I lived on these fresh lemon fruits for forty days. It was all by Periyavas grace that I could eat it and
subsist on it. I was ready to go and got into Nagaraja Iyers car and we left for Sabarimala.
I smashed eighteen coconuts on the eighteen steps when I reached the shrine on the
mountain. Then devotees went up to the Melsnthi2 for prasadam. I wanted prasadam for Periyava
for it was for his sake that I had come. So I went up to him.
Where are you from?
I said I was serving as Periyavas attendant.
Ah, tirumaeni!3
Yes, tirumaeni.
It is because of tirumaeni that we are doing so well. We get a crore of rupees regularly and
everything goes on well.
I want some prasda.
At once the priest took a large container of ghee, and emptying it on the idol, collected it in
a bottle that would hold at least one to one and a half kilos, to the brim. Then he took
1

Dravida Kazhagam, a political party that advocates atheism and whose members wear black clothes.
Chief priest
3
Lit. Auspicious form/body; a way of addressing royalty and saints.
2

2
In the Presence of the Divine
vibhti with both his hands, twice over, and showered it over the deity. This too, he collected and
gave me. I packed the prasda carefully. I prostrated and offered him five hundred rupees. I bought
two bottles of aravaa pyasam 4 for myself. I could eat after I had completed the worship and ended
the pilgrimage. I then began my return journey.
On the way back, I took the route via Ernakulam. It does not matter what route you take on
your return. There are two routes, one via Vandiperiyar, the other via Salakkayam. I reached
Ernakulam via Salakkayam. A lawyer, who came for daran and was well-known to me, a friend,
took me to his house. I had a meal there and got ready to leave, when he said, You must not refuse
me this. My mother - she is ninety lives in a village nearby. She will be delighted to see someone
from Periyava. Let us go there before you leave.
So we left for the village called Kollengode. The gentlemans mother was so happy to see me. She
originally hailed from the Nangavaram. Her name was Angacchi. She offered me coffee and when I
refused it and opted for buttermilk instead, served me some. After a short while, I got ready to leave,
when she said, You cannot go away without seeing Mama, Krishnaiyer. Hey, you child! Come here
and take this lad to Mama.
I knew neither Krishnaiyer nor Ramaiyer! Anyway we went out and in the house across the road, a
very aged man sat reclining on a chair. He was ninety-five, I learnt.
Hey, Raju, who is it?
I was introduced. I serve Periyava I said.
The old man got up and fell down full length in prostration to me and held on to my feet. I was
shocked and sprang back.
You cant do this! You are so elderly and I am but a child. It is sinful!
I did not offer my prostrations to you, but to Periyava, arvevaran! Dont you know that he is none
other than Bhagavn, svara! Dont you know that Periyava is none other than God himself! People
from Thanjavur are intelligent but you seem to be a dullard.
What makes you say that? Are you saying it because everyone says so? Everyone sings praises of
Periyava!
Listen! Many decades ago, Periyava came to Kerala and stayed for forty-five days in our town.
Every morning Periyava would be up by three oclock and would sit for an hour of japa. Then after
his snna and daily regimen, would perform the ritualistic Candramouvara worship. After this, he
would rush in for five minutes and have a sparse name-sake meal. Then he would be back again with
the devotees to discourse on a spiritual topic. It would go on like this, pja, prasdam, meeting
devotees, endlessly, and then again the same thing all over again in the afternoon, evening and night.
He hardly ate and slept for barely three hours every day. One day I prayed to Periyava, Periyava
must do something for me!
What is it?
Periyava is none other than Guruvayurappan, Ernakulattuappan5. This endless round of work and
lack of sleep has caused heat in Periyavas body. The eyes are flaming red with heat. Periyava must
permit me to give him an oil-bath. Kerala is well-known for its medicinal oils. Periyava must be
gracious and let me do this.
4
5

Sweet and thick concoction of milk, jiggery, granulated rice and fragrant spices.
The deity Krishna at Guruvayoor; the diety at Ernakulam temple.

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
Alright. Come on Saturday said Periyava.
So I cured oil with herbs and roots and on Saturday morning took it to Periyava. Periyava allowed
me to apply the oil on his head and limbs. I saw then that he had the Chakravarti rekh on his head.
He had the conch and disc on his hands. On the soles of his feet I saw Padma rekh.6 You say that
you are from Thanjavur, people from there are smart, but you seem to lack intelligence. You say that
you serve Periyava but you have not seen these lines on his body! Dont be deceived because he
urinates and defecates like everyone else. He is fooling you. He is none other than swara himself!
He was talking to me along these lines. After a while, I prepared to leave when he said, Wait for a
minute and went in.
He came back holding eighteen rudrkas, 7 starting from a single-faced one up to an eighteen-faced
one. He put all of them into my hands and said, Take it, my boy. I have kept these with care for a
long time now. You must have these!
I accepted the beads and again the old man caught my hands and said, You must promise me one
thing.
What promise?
You must promise to serve Periyava till the last breath. Others will trouble you, try to get rid of you.
A rogue may come along and throw you out. Never mind that. Sit on the pyol outside the Maha and
watch over Periyava, but dont leave him. Be a loyal servant to him, never leave him!
Then he served me some buttermilk.
There is one more thing. Tell him that I prayed to him not to walk. He walks a lot. If the lines on his
feet are wiped out then it will spell calamity to the world. So he must not walk. One more thing. You
must offer twenty-four prostrations to him on my behalf requested the old man.
I gave him my assurance and left.
I returned by taxi. Periyava was in the middle of some forest, some little hamlet called
Kattukodipuram, I think, near Nagalapuram. The journey was awful, the road full of craters and
bumps. It was with a lot of difficulty that I reached his presence. Periyava was resting on a piece of
gunny-sack. I placed the ghee and sacred ash in front of Periyava and prostrated to him. At once
Periyava opened the bottle of ghee and ate it all up, more than a kilo and a half, all at one go! Then
picking up the sacred ash that was wrapped in a leaf, emptied the whole of it upon his head. Before I
could speak, Periyava said, So you went to Sabarimala? What did that Krishnaiyer tell you?
He told me that Periyava was none other than Paramevara himself!
In a flash Periyava got up and stood holding his danda. He seemed about six feet tall in height and
his eyes became fiery and red. He was verily ulap 8with his trident, the Lord Paramevara
himself!
Did he say that! Did he!

Lines on the head signifying the that the bearer is king of kings; lines on the palm signifying the auspicious insignia of
Narayana and lines on the soles of the feet signifying the that the bearer is the repository of all auspiciousness and
prosperity.
7
Lit. Rudra (iva)s eyes;Elaeocarpus ganitrus; a large variety of evergreen tree whose fruit is globose and has a fleshy
exterior;the seeds inside are hard and tubercler and worn for their medicinal and spiritual properties; the natural groves
that may run from the top to the bottom slice the seed into two or more parts called faces; a grooveless seed is called
one-faced or ekamukhi.
8
Trident wielding iva

4
In the Presence of the Divine
Yes and he wished to say to Periyava that if the lines on Periyavas feet are wiped out then it will
spell calamity to the world. So he prays that Periyava must not walk.
Tell him that the lines will not fade. Tell him that I wear pdukas. Phone him and tell him.
Later on I did telephone Krishnaiyer and convey Periyavas message.
Then I placed all the rudrka beads in front of Periyava as an offering.
They were gifted to you!
I am unworthy of such a rare gift and am an ignoramus. It is befitting only of Periyava to wear
them.
How shall I wear these, like this?
Ill have them strung I said and I had them neatly strung together. Periyava wore them too.
Periyava always wore rudrka on pradoa days. Later he gave them to Bla Periyava, though
I have never seen him wear these or any other, not even during pja. Pudu Periyava wears rudrka
on Pradoa days without fail.
Then I said, I wish to ask Periyava something . . .
Ask me what you wish to.
Ramaiyers and Krishnaiyers have applied oil on Periyavas head and have seen the rekhs on his
limbs and we who are with Periyava all the time and serve him have never seen anything.
Periyava stretched out his legs and bent forward.
Look at the lines on my head, on my feet, go on . . . come closer and feel the lines, if you like. Am
I a policeman or TTR9? What will I do to you? Must I wear a board around my neck announcing this,
ankaracrya has these lines on his head and so on?
I touched the lines on his feet and felt them on his head. Karumrti10 is a word that applies only to
him, no one else in the world. None can be as gracious as Periyava.
The next day, Periyava finished his morning routine11, and by three oclock, set out towards
Kalavai. It was about forty kilometers, more than twenty-five miles, and in one stretch Periyava
walked to reach Kalavai that day. I berated myself for being a traitor and wept to see him walk such
a long distance in the blistering heat.
Droh,12 that I am, I listened to the words of some Krishnaiyer and presumed to tell Periyava not to
walk and now Periyava walks this far . . .
Periyava consoled me, No, it is not so. . . I have been sitting there waiting for you for the past three
days, I wanted to be in Kalavai for my Gurus birthday. So I came here.
I will not believe all this!
Well, then! Ill be here. I will not walk. I will cross Kalavai only when you say so.
Periyava continued to camp in Kalavai for about three years or so. He moved about the place but
never went out of Kalavai.
The dome above the sanctum sanctorum of Kamakshi temple was covered with gold and
kumbhbhieka held, with Pudu Periyava performing it.
9

TTI or TTR; Travelling Ticket Inspector; colloquially someone who wields power
Embodiment of grace
11
Morning ablutions, anuna and the one hour japa, the last done while walking also; however, even if Periyava
walked during the japa, he was thoroughly involved within himself and oblivious of life outside.
12
Traitor
10

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
The Sankaracharya Swami is there to do it Periyava said and stayed on in Kalavai.
When the consecration was over, Sivaramaiyyer, Ramu, Janakiramaiyya and Kamakoti, all the four
of them came with prasda to Kalavai. Periyava applied the kumkum on his forehead and draped the
saree from Kamakshi around his shoulders. To their prayer that Periyava must return to
Kanchipuram, Periyava said, Call Balu!
I went forward.
Do you remember? Three years ago I told you that I will not go out of Kalavai without your
consent. Now I wish to see Amb. I wish to go to Kamakshi temple, so I am asking you . . .
I broke down and wept when he said this. I had honestly forgotten all about that incident.
Periyava walked from Kalavai to Kanchipuram the next day, covering the entire stretch in
twenty-four hours, at one go. By then of course, word had spread that Periyava was coming back to
Kanchi. A vary grand reception was organized. Traditional bhajans, music, band and drums and so
on. Everywhere there was a sea of people - pouring in from all sides - when they learnt that Periyava
was returning to Kanchi. At every one of the four gopurams, Periyava halted and made sure that the
four of us who had accompanied him got in safely, although he was surrounded by the VIPs gathered
there to welcome Periyava. He was so concerned because of the massive crowd that had gathered to
see Periyava come into the temple. Truly, Periyava was like a mother hen, protective of its chicks,
the way he stood at each gopuram and waited to see us get in. We were made to walk ahead of him.
Periyava entered Ambs santum sanctorum, offered dpam13, flowers and then garlanded
Ambal. Periyava then came out of the santum sanctorum and reaching the shrine of Varhi14 spread
out the upper end of his ochre cloth and lay down, resting his human form for a while. Muthuraman
came from the Maha to see Periyava, no one else.
The next morning, by three oclock, he completed his snna at the temple tank and going to
Ambals shrine, performed agapradakia15 of Kamakshi. The flooring around Ambs was rough
and full of little stones and crevices. Not smooth as it has been made since then. Never in the history
of Kamakshis temple, was such a thing done. Periyavas body was bruised all over and full of weals
when it was completed. Periyava then got ready to return to Kalavai and began to walk back the
route once more. We halted in Gollachatram for a short while and Periyava took a handful of puffed
rice and continued to walk again. Within twenty-four hours of leaving Kanchi, we were back in
Kalavai.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY
It was during the period of national emergency16. Indira Gandhi was arresting everyone connected
with the Kamaraj Congress. Periyava was in Tenampakkam. Arakonam Rajagopalaiyer and several
others, not just Brahmins, everyone, Christians, everyone came to Tenampakkam. They were moving
13

Lit. lamp; here votive lights

Boar-faced goddess
15
Lit.body- circumambulation; circumambulating the shrine by rolling along the floor, with hands raised above and held
together in salutation.
16
A 21-month period in 197577 when a state of emergency was declared across the country by the then Prime Minister,
Indira Gandhi.
14

6
In the Presence of the Divine
about here and there, but did not say anything to Periyava. Periyava called me. Get plenty of
groceries. Never mind the cost. Plenty of rice. Roast it. Roasting it removes impurity. From now on
you must cook huge quantities of rice. Get plenty of milk and make coffee and tea, whatever. You
must serve these people food every day. Feed everyone who comes here, it does not matter what
caste they belong to. They fear arrest and have come here to me. They wont talk about it but that is
why they are here. No one will arrest them here. I have given them refuge, so they must be fed.
Cook lots of food.
So during Emergency we served everyone who came there seeking Periyavas protection. Who could
have such compassion for all but Periyava? Who could have shown such grace but Periyava ?

RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS OFFERINGS

Have I told you about the mittadar17 from Tirunelveli? I thought I did. This gentleman came to the
Maha. So huge and hefty he was, verily a Ravanewara18, very dark and with a big mustache, like a
Yama kikara19. He had brought baskets of fruit of the choicest kind, apples, grapes, pomegranates,
each kind filled in several baskets. There were nuts and dried fruits also, raisins, almonds and
pistachio, in big packets, weighing several kilos. There was money, in bundles of hundred rupee
notes, we did not have five hundred rupee notes those days.
As for Periyava, he had been besmearing himself with vibhuti all over, sitting inside the
mena. As soon as this mittadar entered, Periyava drew the door of the mean close and what is more,
he latched it inside. There was a hook-like latch on the inside of the door, which was never used.
On that day, he drew the hook and locked himself inside the mena.
The mittadar was asking me incessantly to inform Periyava of his visit. He was very insistent.
Balu, I must have Periyavas daran. Tell Periyava that I have come, go on! If you say that the
mittadar from Tirunelveli has come, he will recognize me at once. He knows me! I could not ward
him off and the mena remained tightly shut and latched too. There was no question of opening it
from outside. I was at my wits end. Only Kannan20 could tackle such situations. He may be shorttempered and so on, but he managed such moments so well, as no one else could. I went in and
found him sleeping. I shook him to wake him up and he was irritated. He had taken a tablet and was
sleeping it off.
What is it? he snapped.
Talaivare!21 I coaxed him, this Mittadar from Tirunelveli . . . and quickly appraised him of the
situation.
Get me something, first. I am thirsty!
I fetched him some buttermilk. When he finished it, he got up and came out.

17

Colloquial for Mirasdar or one holding land held under hereditary title; those who acquired cultivable land and estates,
though not by heredity, were also known thus.
18
Legendary king of Sri Lanka and Lord of Titans.
19
Aides of the God of Death.
20
Banampattu Kannan, who began serving Periyava in the mid forties.
21
Lit. Chief / Leader.

7
Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
Mittadare! he addressed the gentleman warmly. Its been so long since you came here. Dignitaries
like you, at least ten such as you should grace us with your presence, only then will the Maha look
grand. Oh, so you want daran. Ah . . .! Periyava is doing japa . . . and then that will be followed by
pja. All that will take a good three hours at least. You could go to the Kamakshi temple meanwhile.
It is good that you first have the daran of Amb. Why, even Periyava will ask you if you have had
Ambs daran! Hey, Marakannu! Come here! Take the Mittadar to the Kamakshi temple. You had
better get started, finish the daran there first and then you could come back here. . .
Kannan packed the Mittadar off to the temple.
No sooner did the gentleman leave than Periyava opened the door of the mena. Has he gone
away? Take those baskets of fruit and empty them on the road, outside the Maha and fling the
baskets away. Everything, outside the Maha! The money, open the bundles and scatter the notes on
the road so that whoever wants can pick them up. Dont throw it as a bundle because one man will
take it all. Open the bundles and throw the notes away. We do not want any of these things in the
Maha. The man has raped several women, committed many murders. His offerings are not
acceptable for the Maha! That money was made in an unrighteous manner. We do not need it for the
Maha.
So we emptied the fruit and nuts outside the Maha, flung away the baskets and opened the
bundles of money and scattered it all over the road. The mittadar never returned to the Maha. That
was of Periyavas doing, he did not allow him to come back.

There was a very rich lady from Mayavaram. Her husband had been in the Army, in Loas. His
pension ran into several lakhs. She was the beneficiary. Every day she would pester me to present
her case to Periyava. She wanted to offer a very large amount of money to the Maha. She had not
removed her tresses after she was widowed and so could not see Periyava directly22.
Balu, she would say, please tell Periyava that I want to offer all my money to the Maha. Its all
for Periyava and so on.
Periyava never responded to her prayer.
One day a group of people came from Velacheri in Chennai. They had built a temple there
and had come to receive Periyavas help and blessings. They felt they could make good use of the
money the lady proposed to offer.
It does not matter if the temple is not consecrated. It does not matter if the temple cannot afford oil
for the lamps, but not that money said Periyava firmly.

There was another very rich lady. I think this happened when Periyava halted in Sarvamangala
Kalyana mantapam, I dont remember now. The lady brought huge silver utensils, silver pots, a huge
set of silver lamps and silver ware of all kinds, filled in many sacks. This besides, she had also
brought a wooden chest that was full of jewels of all kind, diamond earrings and so many other

22

Periyava did not receive ladies who did not remove their tresses and don the widows garb when widowed.

8
In the Presence of the Divine
pieces of invaluable jewelery, all of which must have weighed a kilo or a kilo and a half. She was
from a small village near Mayavaram, Saenthangudi.
The Senior Manager told me, Balu, you are the one now presenting devotees to Periyava for daran.
Take care of this lady!
I prayed to Periyava. Periyava must be gracious. This lady here has brought some offerings to be
made to Periyava.
I am a mottai23. I need no silver or jewels. I do not want it, I did not ask for all this. I do not
understand what you mean when you speak of grace. To whom should I be gracious? To you or that
lady or the sacks of silver or the box of jewelry? Its not clear. You had better explain it to me
clearly.
I moved but at once Periyava said, Do not touch those things! Let them be. I dared not, because
that would have got me his wrath.
The lady attempted to place the set of silver lamps in front of Periyava and lifted one of them.
Let it be as it is said Periyava. Ask her if she has a husband.
The lady had married and divorced. Her husband had married again.
But these were given as my dowry by my parents, from my maternal home said the lady. I am
now aged and have no children. I want to offer these to Periyava.
These are stolen jewels. Once you married your gotra24 has changed. These are neither yours nor
does it belong to your maternal home, they belong to the family you married into. Come with your
husband, offer your prostrations as a couple and then give these, I will accept them for the Maha.
Not otherwise, these are stolen jewels!
Everything was rejected and the lady was sent away. The Senior Manager was very upset.
Look, how you bungled it! Kannan would have managed it, if I had told him. Now its all gone.
Never mind, plenty will come if Periyava so wills it I said.
Yes, and meanwhile we will clap our hands together!25
NAGALAKSHMIAMMAS DEVOTION
Nagalakshmi, Ponds Narayanans sister, was devoted to Periyava. A real shrew she was. One day she
had gone to a Siva temple in Kanchipuram. She took a holy dip in temple tank and dried her saree
there. Then she went for daran to the sanctum sanctorum and not finding the lamp lit told the priest
to light it.
In Kanchipuram the priests are responsible for the upkeep of the temples. This temple has no
revenue whatsoever. I have a large family, five children and my parents to look after and am
struggling to make ends meet. I cannot afford to buy oil . . .
Nagalakshmiamma came and told Periyava about it.
Why dont you get some oil and wicks for the temple and hand it over to the priest?

23

Lit. shaven-head; colloquially an ascetic; one worth nothing; to make one a mottai is to cheat one of all possessions.
Clan or descendants in an unbroken patriline from a common male ancestor, the first patriarch being a seer of yore.
25
A colloquial way of suggesting want; denotes empty hands, for clapping is not possible when they are full.
24

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
So Nagalakshmiamma got sesame oil in a container and some wicks and handed it over to the priest.
The next day she went to the temple to take a look. No lamp had been lit. The priests house was
adjacent to the temple, part of its complex. So Nagalakshmiamma went there and what she saw was
this. The priests wife was massaging oil on her head, the girl children had all been given an oil
massage from top to toe and were being readied for a bath. Nagalakshmiamma was quite annoyed.
She came to Periyava and reported the matter to him.
You have served Kamakshi in her tangible form. The oil meant for Swami no doubt would have
been used on the idol, but here you have served Kamakshi in her physical embodiment. That is good.
You will be blessed with the merit that accrues from performing awamedha yga26. Why dont you
buy some oil and wicks for that temple regularly?
So Nagalakshmiamma got a tin of sesame oil and wicks every month for that temple for a long time.
Nagalakshmiamma used to come to the Maha every morning by three and offer the first
rati . No matter how dark it was, how deserted and lonely, she would walk to the Maha and be
here by three every morning. She would never miss making the first rati offering. One morning she
did not turn up, others had gathered. Periyava made the sign of a hooded snake28 with his hands and
asked for her in gestures. We had nicknamed her snake amongst ourselves. Periyava beckoned me
closer. Go and find her!
27

Nagalakshmiamma had rented a house at the end of the lane. I went there. Narayanaswamiyer,
Nagalakshmis husband - they did not get along well- had not got up yet. I called out and when he
came out, asked him, Where is Nagalakshmi mami? Periyava sent me to find her.
Oh, that ghoul went out quite a while ago. Its been some time now . . .
I came out and looked about. There was no sign of her anywhere on the road. A tea-shop was open
and I went up and asked the shop man if he had seen the lady. She went that way he said pointing
to a road going in the direction opposite to the Maha. So I engaged a cycle-rickshaw and took the
road leading away from the Maha. I must have gone a good two or three miles before I spotted her.
Where are you off to? Periyava sent me to fetch you.
Balu, she said, I am not quite myself, my boy. I dont know where I am going. I have been
walking for a long time now and I was worried because I had still not reached Periyava.
Get in I said and brought her back in the rickshaw with me to the Maha. Only Periyava had
noticed her absence at three o clock that morning. None of us had.

26

Horse-sacrifice
Votive offering with camphor lit up or with lamps; devotees always gathered to make the first votive offering and have
Periyavas daran as soon as he opened the door of the palanquin before dawn
28
Naga means cobra in common parlance and snake in general
27

10
In the Presence of the Divine
A BANGLE-SELLERS VISIT

A vaayal Chetty29 once came by the Maha. It was past mid-day, may be one in the afternoon.
Periyava was resting after his bhika. Periyava called him in.
You are a vaayal Chetty? How are things with you?
Not well at all. In those days people would call me home during weddings and vaakppu30 but
now they manage on their own. I have a large family to support. We hardly find half a meal to go by.
It is so difficult these days.
Have you had something to eat?
Oh, I get myself may be two idlis from a shop . . .
Periyava called me. Take this man to the sandarpaa. Give him a good meal.
So the bangle-seller was taken to the dining room and fed heartily. Then he returned to Periyavas
presence.
Give me all your bangles said Periyava. The gentleman removed all the bangles from the poles he
had stacked them in and handed them over. Periyava said that the man had to be paid. Kittu Iyer paid
him hundred rupees at once.
Take ten bangles from this lot and put it back on his stack. He must not carry an empty stack!
So ten bangles were put back on his stack. Periyava then commanded us to fetch a set of dhotis and
a saree which were handed over to the bangle-seller to take back home. This besides, his bus-fare
and plenty of fruit for his children, were also given.
I have never sold all the bangles at one go like this said the man in delight. At the most I would get
five or ten rupees a day! He was so happy when he left.
Now what were we to do with so many bangles? Periyava called two ladies and instructed them.
Today is Friday. Give a few bangles each with betel-leaf and areca nut31 to every lady who comes
to the Maha today! The bangle-sellers joy was so very great that day!

CANDRAMOUVARAS LAMP
This was a wonder. In 1954, there was a storm. The wind speeded at a hundred and twenty to a
hundred and fifty kilometers an hour. At times, it was at two hundred kilometers an hour. Periyava
was at Aarupathi, near Mayavaram, camping at Natesaiyers house. A thatched shed had been put up
29

Wandering bangle-seller, belonging to a sub-sect of vaika-chetti, a trading community.

Lit. bangle as protective amulet) it was considered auspicious to invite this bangle-seller during a pre-natal ritualistic
celebration, before the first-born, when the prospective mother would be adorned with bangles by him. The seller was
paid in cash and kind.
31
An auspicious offering
30

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
for the pja. The storm was devastating. My native place, Rayavaram is renowned for its populace
of the white-breasted eagle. About two hundred of them dropped dead. Ten of our milch cows
succumbed to the storm and several giant tamarind trees crashed down. At Aarupathi, the lamp that
had been lit at the altar during the regular Candramouvara worship did not go out at all. Many
witnessed this. It burned through the day while the wind and rain lashed the area furiously. The light
was bound by the power of Periyavas immaculate satya.32
Odacheri Swami was also there. In the garden at the back, coconuts rained down from the
trees. He ran about excitedly gathering them and shouting, Look, Coconuts! Coconuts! Nothing
would stop his foolishness. He went crazy as the coconuts came flying down. What if a tree crashed
down on his head? Talaivar Kannan caught hold of him and giving him a hard knock on the head,
dragged him in. We locked him in a room at the end of the house and let him out only the next
morning, when the storm died down.

KEEDARI FROM RAMANATHAPURAM

One day a goat-herd from Ramanathapuram - we call him keedari in our parts - came to Periyava's
camp.
Do you know how they live?
I did not know the details about their way of life though I had seen them come, put up their pens in
the shandies at our place and sell their semmari goats33.
They are nomads. Their only possessions are these goats. They stop at village tea-stalls and eat a
few buns and take some tea. Not all villages have tea-stalls. They make do with a handful of roasted
gram or some white pukku 34. They usually have a dog, which guards their goat and accompanies
them as a loyal friend. They do not know cooked rice-meals. Today it is pournami35 and the man has
come to see me. Take him in and feed him to a sumptuous meal. Let him be here for at least five or
six days and eat well. Go on, take him in!
I took him in and served him a full meal, complete with vadai and payasam.
The goat-herd stayed on in the camp for five days. Every day we served him food generously. When
he got ready to leave, Periyava gave him a set of dhotis and saree and some money in hand.
How did Periyava know about the keedaris eating habits? Every year I had seen them come to our
village, put up pens, sell their goat and go away. I never knew this at all.
A GRAND-OLD DEVOTEE
When Periyava camped in Pandaripur, every morning an elderly man would come for daran. He
wore a turban, coat and dhoti, in the traditional Marathi style. He would sing some abhagas 36 in
32

Truth unsullied by falsity even in thought or feeling; truth of the divine.

Shersha or wild goat
34
Protein-rich remnant/ oil-cakes from nuts and seeds, after oil is pressed out; used widely as cattle-feed
35
Full-moon day
36
Lit. un-broken/whole; rapturous, devotional hymns composed by the mystics of Maharashtra from the twelfth to the
seventeenth centuries, in praise of Panduranga Vittala, the presiding deity of Pandaripur, sung by one and all in
Maharashtra even today.
33

12
In the Presence of the Divine
Periyavas presence. He did not speak or ask for anything. Many days passed. One day Periyava said,
Balu, my boy, ask the elderly gentleman his age!
I went up to the gentleman and asked him how old he was.
Vittoba has been gracious to me and told me to wait for a hundred and seven years to see God come
here. Such is the grace of Vittoba that I am here today!
The gentleman did not directly say that his age was a hundred and seven, but spoke these charming
words. He walked up to the camp every morning, kept himself neatly dressed and could sing so well!
I was stunned.
Periyava smiled and said, Look, what love they have for their Vittoba! He attributes all to Vittoba!
What devotion in Pandaripur! How dear Panduranga is to them!

CHANDRA CURED
Chandra37, had the habit of chewing betel-leaf, with areca nut and tobacco. No matter how well you
wash your mouth, the teeth give you away with the stain. Of course, everyone knew. He would dash
off inside and help himself to some betel-leaf even when he served Periyava. One morning, as usual
devotees came for daran, carrying fruit, coconut and flowers.
What have you brought for me? Periyava asked in a very unusual manner.
Flowers, coconut, fruit, nuts and so on said the devotees as the case may be.
No! These are of no use to me at all. I want betel-leaf, areca nut. Yes, some tobacco and lime to go
with it. Can you get me tobacco and betel-leaf and areca nut? I have a boy with me and he needs all
these. Of what use are fruit and flowers?
In no time, hundreds of bundles of betel-leaf, packets of areca-nut, plenty of tobacco and lime were
piled in front of Periyava. Periyava commanded that all of it be delivered to Chandra. So we handed
over everything to him. Chandra was so ashamed, he gave up the habit then and there. Nowadays, he
chews a little areca-nut, thats all.
RA.GANAPATHI38S ASTIABDAPRTI39
In vai 1994, a few days before Piyar Caturti40 Periyava appeared in my dream. Wordlessly with
gestures he showed the image of an elephant. Since Piyar Caturti was at hand I said, Piyar to
suggest that I understood what he meant. Periyava persisted till I said all the names of Piyar one
after another, Gaea, Vinyaka and so on till I came to Gaapati, which he acknowledged. Then
37

Smavedi Chandramouli; see article no.2

Ra.Gnapathi anna compiled and put in book form the mammoth seven volume Deivattin Kural(Voice of God),
consisiting of Periyava's discourses for several decades.
39
ceremonial celebration, with fire-rites, on the completion of sixty years
40
Gaea festival, in August-September
38

13
Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
he showed the number sixty with his fingers. So I guessed right and said, atiabhdaprti for Ra.
Ganapathi! Periyava was pleased.
Take a shawl and fruits and go and honour him on Piyar Caturti! said Periyava and the dream
ended.
So I bought a shawl, a pair of fine dhotis, fruits, a flower garland and a rudrka garland. I offered
them all at Periyavas aditnam and went to Chennai. Ra. Ganapathi was in house in Nanganallur
where a young man looked after him.
Balu! he said when he saw me, wait for a minute! In a few minutes the auspicious hour will end.
Let me start the Piyar pja and then join you!
In a few minutes he came back. I placed the shawl around his shoulders, garlanded him, and gave
the prasda and other gifts.
What is all this?
I am simply doing what Periyava told me to in a dream I had a few days ago and narrated my
dream to him.
Today is my sixtieth birthday. It always falls on Piyar Caturti because I was born on that day.
Some days ago, Vanathi Thirunavukarasu Chettiar and a few others were here. They wished to form
a committee with R.V41 as its Chairman, hold grand celebrations and release a souvenir to mark the
event. I did not consent to it. It was enough for me that Periyava give me his grace. I do not like
publicity of any kind. Now look how Periyava has showered his grace upon me.
I did not know that your birthday falls on Piyar Caturti, nor any other personal detail whatsoever.
I simply obeyed Periyava's instruction!
Such was Periyavas acknowledgment of Ra. Ganapathis devotion. He gave me fifty or hundred
rupees, I dont remember now and repeatedly dwelt on Periyava's grace.

MAH SARASWATI
A young man once posed a question to Periyava. all the elders of th eKuru clan were at court,
Kripa, Aswathama, Bhishma, all the venerable and wise elders. Then why were they all silent when
Drauoadi was dishonored? We are told that the Mahbhrata is the fifth Veda. But what is the justice
here?
Periyava said, Dharmaraja was also there. None knew of the nuances of Dharma as perfectly as he
did, for Dharmaraja is the very embodiment of Dharma. He was of the opinion that the there was a
right to behave in that manner. When he remained silent, there was nothing that others could say.
How well and clearly Periyava has explained it. Dharnmraja conceded a right, no one could have
said it so well. Periyava is called Saraswati because he is truly Mah Saraswati!
MAINTAINING THE TEMPLE
Dr.Visalakshi, Nedunchezhians wife would come regularly for daran. Periyava would be gracious
and make kind enquiries. How is Narayansami Mudaliar? he would ask her. That was really
Nedunchezhians name. How is Ramasami doing? that was Anbazhgan, who was formerly a
Professor at Pachaiappas college. How is Datchinamurthi? Periyava would ask referring to
Karunanidhi. He never failed to make enquiries of these three.
41

Former President of India

14
In the Presence of the Divine
I am coming from Kamakshi temple now. I saw cockroaches running on the idol of Kamakshi.
Periyava must do something.
But no one will pay heed to what I say. I am old and cannot see properly. Your husband is Minister.
Tell him to do something. His orders will be obeyed. The temple is now in thecare of the
Endowments Department.
SAHASRA GYATHRI42
When Periyava was camping at Hubli a group of devotees came there V.G.Pal Neelakantaiyer,
Natarajaiyer,Nathan Iyer, Nathan, Esan Ramakrishnaiyer and Joshi. Periyava was camping in the out
house of a Railway officers quarters. The devotees submitted their request that Periyava must
permit them to arrange for a homa for his well-being.
You think of my well-being. I have to think of yours. May all be blessed. Such things are not
required for me. What you must do is to perform sahasra Gyatri. That will do good to the world!
Gyatri japa will save the whole world! So the devotees performed Gyatri japa a thousand times.
The people in Hubli performed a homa for Periyava but that was on their own not because Periyava
told them to do it.
POPULARISING KAMBA RAMYAA AND SOME MUSLIM VISITORS
Justice M.M. Ismail used to come regularly for daran. Periyava would tell him to sit down and the
two of them would chat for while. He had great admiration of the Kamba Ramyaa. One day he
sang a verse from the epic which meant to convey that God is One. Who but Kamban could write
such a verse and with such beauty? People do not read Kamban. Kamba Ramyaa should be
popularized. I went to M.S.Subbuklakshmi and Sadasivam and requested that a few songs be
popularized . Sadasivam said neither Yes nor No. Periyava must do this. Kambans verses should
reach the common public! At least ten songs must be popularized.
Such was Ismails admiration of Kamban. Periyava sent me to meet MS Amma and Sadasivam. I
conveyed Periyava wish and that is how the cassette of MS singing verses from Kamba Ramyaa
reached the public.
A Muslim once came to Periyava. Do you perform your prayers six times a day? asked
Periyava.
We are expected to do it five times and I do so said the gentleman in reply.
You are expected to do it six times said Periyava and the visitor disagreed. It went on and finally
Periyava said, You need to do it six times. Go and ask your teacher.
The gentleman went and did so.
Periyava is right. You need to do it six times a day, the sixth prayer is an atonement for not doing
the Haj pilgrimage. Those that have gone to Haj need to do it only five times a day. We have
forgotten this injunction in practice, though I know of it from our rules and Periyava knows it said
the moulvi. Later the gentleman came back and reported this to Periyava.

42

Chanting the Gyatri mantra a thousand times at one go.

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
There was another Muslim gentleman who was a Professor of Sanskrit. He would elaborate on the
beauties of Klidsas verses and enjoy the Skuntalam43 in particular. Periyava introduced him to
another teacher of Sanskrit and said, Brahmins are not studying Sanskrit as they should. Look at this
gentleman. He has studies the language and talks about Klidsa with such appreciation! The boys
around me dont have this dedication, this mastery of Sanskrit.

AT ORIRUKKAI
Periyava was in Orirukkai. After his snna in the Plru river, Periyava sat outsideon the pyol of
Kannatis house. They were very poorprople, though now things have changed a bit for the better.
They had some little land and somehow managed. Kannatis father prayed to Periyava, Periyava
must be pleased to perform cturmsya at Orirukkai this year.
Periyava smiled and said Go and ask the Senior Manager.
The Senior Manager told Kannatis father, Do you have any idea what it will cost? You have to put
up a huge pandal for the pja. Everyday devotees will pour in and they have to fed, hundreds or even
thousands of them. You will have to spend at least some thousands everyday. This was in the midfifties.
Kannatis father came back to Periyava in tears. What can poor man like me do? I have a little land
and somehow make things meet. I have a large family and take care of my aged parents. The
gentleman began to shed tears.
Dont worry Periyava said consolingly. That day, it was ekdasi, he sat on the banks of the Palaru
and to every devotee who came to see him he would say, Make an offering for the cturmsya
vrata! by evening a large amount of money piled up. Hand this over to the Senior Manager and
ask him if it will do said Periyava. It was much more than what the gentleman had thought he would
need! Periyava's atiabhdaprti was celebrated there.
Devaraja Urs he was from the royal family of Mysore - came for daran. He came to Sivasthanam
and was told Periyava has left for Orirukkai!
Its a long distance from Sivasthanam to Orirukkai. Devaraja Urs said that he would walk, not take
his car. The gentleman was huge and heavy, with a prominent belly. How could he walk the
diatsnce! I will not go by car now. Periyava may be on the way, walking! I shall walk he said.
It was a terrible exercise for him, with his weight. Periyava said,Go and fetch him, holding
him by hand. Dont shy away from holding his hand because he is not a Brahmin. How difficult it
must be for him to walk this distance! Kannan and I went and held Devaraja Urs hands and brought
him slowly. The path was sandy, with pits and slopes, difficult even for us. The gentleman struggled
to reach Periyava's presence.
When Urs reached Orirukkai that was also ekdasi Periyava was sitting on the riverbank.
The gentleman prostrated to Periyava and brushing aside all fatigue said, Mine is a rare fortune! To
have the daran of a saint on a riverbank is a rare blessing, it is said. I have got that good fortune on
this holy day, on the banks of this sacred river. Such was his devotion to Periyava. Periyava blessed
him and gave him a fruit.
43

Abhijnna Skuntalam, the legend of Dushyanta and Sakuntala dramatized by Mahkavi Klidsa, one of the nine
gems who adorned the court of Bhoja Raja.

16
In the Presence of the Divine

SAKADAPURAM SWAMI
Periyava was camping in Karpakambal Kalyana Matapam. It had barely been completed, even the
flooring was not fully done. The pontiff of Sakadapuram Sankaracharya Math came and prostrated to
Periyava.
You are also a pontiff, you must not prostrate to me said Periyava.
You are king of kings among ascetics, cturmsya chakravarti!44 I have come seeking your grace.
You must save me.
Periyava asked for a silk carpet to be laid out for him and invited the ascetic to sit down.
You had a Maha in Tambaram. What about that?
I am a pontiff only in name. I have no means to buy even milk for the daily worship. I am unable to
do pja. I need to run the Maha, invite scholars and promote them, promote the Vedic scholars and
feed devotees, perform the daily ritualsitc pja with milk and honey. Periyava must be gracious.
Do not be worried said Periyava, I shall bless you profusely. You must not prostrate to me.
When cultivable land was passed on to the ownership of the cultivators, in the states of
Kerala and Karnataka, compensation was given to the Mahas that had owned the land. Some Mahas
like Sringeri got a huge sum in crores, some did not. Sakadapuram did not get any and th ematha was
struggling to exist. Periyava called Hindu Sundaresa Iyer. The gentleman was working in
Sudasamitran but was known as Hindu Sundaresan. He had no children.
Can you spare 10,000 rupees a month? Periyava asked him. Give it to this Swami. He is also a
Sankaracharya. Then Periyava called another gentleman, whose face I remember clearly even now,
but cannot recall his name. he was short, stout and very fair. He was also commanded to give 10,000
rupees a month to Sakadapuram Swami. That ensured twenty thousand rupees a month. Not only
that. Periyava called the devotees in Tambaram and said, A Swami has come to your place. Serve
him. Offer him bhikavandana. He needs milk for worship, flowers and so on. Take care to serve
him. Periyava also advised the Swami to attain perfection in mantra siddhi45. Soon the Swami
displayed a board in his Maha with the rates of the various yantrs46 for various occasions such as
house-warming, consecration of temples, amulets for scorpion-bite, snake-bite and so on.
So Sakadapuram Swami was relieved of his difficulties. This besides, Periyava himself went
and sat in the Maha at Tambaram. Devotees poured in and all the offerings were turned over to
Sakadapuram Swami. Periyava's visit gave the Maha a lot of publicity. A rare jewel, a pendant inset
with gems, offered by the Maharaja of thanjavur was gifted by Periyava to the Sakadapuram Maha.
It went like this. The pontiff of Sakadapuram Maha fell ill and was admitted at Ranga Nursing
Home. Dr. Bala and M.S.Venkataraman- he was the son in law of Vallur Sethuraman, from Tiruchi,

44

An ascetic s age is not counted as it is generally done by calendar years, but by the number of cturmsya vrats he
has performed. Thus an ascetic advanced in years who has taken sanys recently would be considered younger than an
ascetic who may be younger in years of age but who has taken sanys many years ago and so has performed many more
cturmsya vrats.
45
Perfection in the use of mantrs, putting them to their prescribed potency.
46
Esoteric diagrams/forms of mantrs etched on metal plates.

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Vol. II / Article 6, Part Two-Balu Mama
bhacaraam47, very good people took care of him at Periyava's behest. Sambu, who was the
manger to Hindu Sundaresa Iyers household, came to Periyava. Sakadapuram Swami prays for
prasda from Periyava he said.
I shall send it, you may leave said Periyava and called me. He gave me two oranges, two
pomegranates and some other fruit and said, Bundle this up and take it to the Sakadapuram Swami.
It is not proper that I give him vibhti prasda, since he is also a pontiff.
I went to Madras and called on the ailing Swami.
Give me vibhti prasda from Periyava he asked. I did not have the heart to explain the mater to
him at that point. I saw some vibhti in a bottle in the room and taking some it handed it ovet as if it
were prasda from Periyava. The Swami passed away some days later. The devotees of the
Sakadapuram Maha held all the rituals.
For ten years, the Sakadapuram Maha did not have a pontiff. One day a group of devotees
who belonged to Sakadapuram Maha came to Periyava. We have no pontiff. The pja in our Maha
has come to a standstill. We need a pidhipati. Periyava must be gracious to us and identify one for
us!
What am I, after all, an ordinary man.Go to Sringeri Swami, he is great person, and request him to
identify a pontiff for your Maha, said Periyava.
Some months later the devotees came back with the young pontiff who had been selected to
head Sakadapuram Maha. Periyava made detailed enquiries about his learning. The young pontiff
told Periyava that he had completed the basic Vedic studies in the ptala.
That is not enough. You must study the atras. Go to Balachandra Sastri of Dharwad and study the
atras advised Periyava. he gave me plenty of fruit to carry to Balachandra Sastri and his pupils.
Some time passed. Periyava called me one day and asked me, Do you know Dharwad? I
had no idea where the place was then. Buy a ticket to Hubli and from there you can go to Dharwad
he said. Ramachandran, an engineer, who belongs to the Maha lived in Dharwad. So I went there.
Balachandra Sastri of Dharwad was teaching three pupils, all pontiffs. They were the Kdali
Swami, Sakadapuram Swami and Mulbagal Swami, the latter is a branch of the Dwaraka Maha and
they insist that there are only four ankara Mahas.48 Balachandra Sastri was delighted to see me and
welcomed me heartily. He was joyous to receive the fruits from Periyava. Kdali Swami was very
happy to receive the fruits from Periyava and made many respectful and polite enquiries about
Periyava. The Sakadapuram Swami was also very happy and made enquiries about Periyava. Both

47

Lit. bht +caraam/ immense religious rules; A sub-sect, known for their strict adherence to the injunctions of rules
and practices of the strs.
48
The refusal to admit the unique status of the Kanchi Maha, has long been there. Apart from the four Mahas
established by r ankara, as the final point of halt, the preceptor merged his physical form in the divine at Kanchi. This
has been explained by Periyava himself on numerous occasions with reference to the temple sculptures of Kanchi andthe
Candramoulwara linga brought from Kailasa by the preceptor himself. The art historian C.Sivaramamurtis research on
Kanchi temple sculptures under Periyavas guidance documents the relationship of r ankara with Kanchi variously,
apart from the monograph he wrote on r ankara at Periyava's behest (Bhagavatpada-Sri Sankaracharya. Sankara
Academy of Sanskrit Culture & Classical Arts, New Delhi: 1972.)

18
In the Presence of the Divine
offered their salutations to Periyava. The Mulbagal Swami did not acknowledge me. He did not
speak a word. Anyway I offered the fruits, prostrated and returned to Periyava.
Balachandra Sastri and the pontiffs received me well and accepted the fruits happily I said by
wayo freporting.
Only the Mulbagal Swami did not speak to you said Periyava.
He was in mouna I said.
Which means he did not speak to you. Why must you speak evasively? Kannan would be forthright
in his speech.
I was embarrassed to say it bluntly.
Never mind, go on said Periyava.
The Sakadapuram Swami used to visit the Maha often and being closer in age to Bala
Periyava, would spend some time chatting to him. He once prayed to Sri Jayendra Swami, I wish to
go on a ytra, but do not have the means to do so. I need your help, Swami.
Pudu Periyava gave the Swami his van, sent for Chandramouli,Coimbatore Meenakshisundarams
son. Mouli was instructed to accompany the Sakadapuram Swami, who knew no Tamil, and take
care of all his needs and act as Manager during the trip. Mouli took him to many places. He first took
him to Sathyamangalam and from there to other places. Everywhere money poured in. one crore in
Sathyamangalam, several crores in Bombay and so on. He has established himself very well.
Today the Sakadapuram Maha has grown enormously. However when Pudu Periyava was
camping in Hardwar, the Sakadapuram Swami went past Rishikesh, but did not call on Pudu
Periyava. Nor did he call on Bala Periyava. He built a big temple in Sakadapuram and for forms
sake invited Pudu Periyava, who did not go. He had it consecrated by the Sringeri Swami. Devotees
who have gone there were shocked to hear him say that there were only four ankara Maha. There
is now plenty of money. Practically everyone in Bombay has the paduks of Sakadapuram Swami.
When one climbs up the ladder, it is no longer needed and then one kicks it away.
********