A century ago in 1893, Swami Vivekananda realised with agony, that Bharat's Veda, Idikassa, Puranic days of devotion to Divinity - the life line of spirituality was slowly vanishing, due to foreign invasion and political changes. Indians, who owed their heredity to Rishis, Vivekananda felt, had forgotten the Divinity bestowed on them and were immersed in ignorance burdened with slavery. Swami Vivekananda thundered, that the renaissance of India can only be on the basic and strong foundation of spirituality.

It was at or about that time, in 1894 that Kanchi Mahaswamigal, Jagatguru Sri Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal, oft mentioned as Paramacharya by Yogi Ramsuratkumar had his avatar as Swaminathan at Villupuram. A score and four years later in 1918 Yogi Ramsuratkumar had his divine birth, in a village near Varanasi on the laps of Ganges. True to the words of Krishna Paramatma in 'Gita', that whenever virtue and truth diminish, while vice, tyranny and falsehood prevail, or in other words whenever the society forgets its duties and goes to chaos, "I take birth to uplift Dharma', these two emancipators arrived in that lineage and blessed are we, to have lived, in those 'avatars 'periods.

That coming events cast their shadows before, is well known. Young Swaminathan went off to sleep on a night, on the assurance of his father, to be awakened, when the deity of Illammai Aakiyar Temple of Chidambaram, would be taken out in procession, on the eve of Kumbabhisekham. It was the will of God, that the father and the son slept off, to get known, the next morning, that there was a fire accident during the procession, when several either got injured or perished. It was pre-ordained that this saviour of our Dharma and Culture, would be the 'Acharya' soon thereafter, and for that, God had paved the way. Personification of simplicity, Paramacharya practised, probably more than he preached, purely for our benefit, deriving none for him, for his complete communion with God, left him bereft of wants. Paramacharya has remarked, that Yogiji was a great mahan and His Holiness Bala Periyaval has told this author, that Yogi is continuing the work of Ramana Maharishi.

Yogiji akin to Paramacha'rya, showed signs of intense spiritual thirst even as a child. He had extraordinary devotion to Ganges. Seated on its banks young Yogiji felt a peace descending on him. On number of occasions watching the stars and listening to the sweet note of Ganga, he will fail asleep on its banks. He was magnetically drawn to the saints and sadhus on the banks of Ganges and engaged himself in nama japa. Profound mystical experiences made Yogiji conscious of His spiritual mission which led him to Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramana Maharishi and Papa Ramdas. Experiences of devotees with the Kanchi Mahaswamigal and Yogi Ramsuratkumar are ecstatic and varied, but beyond the scope of this article. This write up is intended to highlight a couple of instances narrated by Bhagavan himself to the author and approved after minor corrections, when the manuscript was ready.

Whenever conversation centered around 'Paramacharya' Yogiji will get into raptures and he had remarked many times to this author, that the whole world owed a deep debt of gratitude to Paramacharya, who was solely responsible for the preservation of our Vedas and Culture. It will be of great significance to mention, that the first picture that was permitted by Bhagavan to adorn the walls of His Ashram, was that of Paramacharya and that was the only picture for a long long time. On His command the lamp that was lit on that day abutting the picture continues to burn even today without break.

Sri Chandramouli, now a resident of Tiruvannamalai, then in Kanchi Pitam, sought the permission of Mahaswamigal, to proceed to Tiruvannamalai, to have darshan of Yogiji. His request was not acceded to, on that day and the seeker was disappointed. However on the next day, the birthday of the Tiruvannamalai sage, Paramacharya directed Chandramouli to meet Yogiji, with special prasadam of Ekambareswarar, in whose sannadhi, the Kanchi Saint had arranged for exclusive abhisekas, archanas and homams on that morning. Recollecting this incident Bhagavan quipped "Paramacharya is always very kind to this beggar".

Yet another instance portrays, unison in the wavelengths of Mahatmas, irrespective of the qualms of commoners. Sri Chandramouli, was directed by Paramacharya to proceed to Tiruvannamalai, with Rs.500/- from the Kanchi Matt, to take Yogiji in a taxi, to the madam of Sri Bodendra Sarasvati Swamigal, at Govindapuram with a request to Yogiji to spend a few hours there, ostensibly in meditation, before He could be escorted back to Tiruvannamalai. When this message was conveyed to Yogiji by Sri Chandramouli, a District Judge and his daughter were in his presence. As most of us are aware, Yogiji ever proclaims that, All he knows is Ram Ram. Ram Nam is everything and it has to be chanted all the 24 hours. I do as ordained by my Master. That is enough for this beggar. Believed by a few and experienced by many, Ram Nam is often heard, in Govindapuram. May be the cause for Paramacharya's direction to Sri Chandramouli. Stunned and surprised at the mission entrusted to Sri Chandramouli Yogiji was in a deep quandary, for He had not left Tiruvannamalai after 1959. Swamiji in deep meditation sought for a suitable direction, I presume, from "His Father" for He always propiated Father to bless his devotees, stating, "Father is and he is nothing but a beggar". The clear inspiration was, to proceed to Kanchipuram and not to Govindapuram, for both were not different. Swamiji with tHose present there, proceeded to the taxi stand and commenced His voyage to Kanchipuram with the emmisary.

By the time the duo reached Kanchi, Paramacharya had finished, His daily routine and rituals and had retired behind closed doors. Yogiji desired Sri Chadramouli to inform Paramacharya about His arrival, but the latter was in fright, that the Acharya may blemish him, for not having obeyed his direction. Blessed by Yogiji, mustering courage, Sri Chandramouli, tapped for the ready and beaming arrival of Paramacharya,to offer darshan to His guest, whose arrival, the "all knowing" must have expected.

The summoner and the summoned, I presume, must have known, that Govindapuram and Kanchipuram, were one in uniqueness, for our Acharya is the descendant of Sri Sri Bodendra Sarasvathi Swamigal. To use the words of Yogiji, "This beggar prostrated before Paramacharya who with great compassion blessed this beggar and querried if this beggar belonged to Surya Vamsa. This beggar could not reply". Both saints were face to face for some length of time - words had no place when the eyes had met.

When the moment for departure augured, Paramacharya loaded Yogiji with prasadam of Goddess Kamakshi and His own, which Yogiji carried to Tiruvannamalai and with visible glee He added " This beggar distributed the prasad to all devotees at the Annamalaiar Temple, for their benefit. Paramacharya has immense love and concern for this beggar." I must hasten to add, that I had taken the permission and Blessings of Yogiji to narrate these incidents, which He lovingly repeated, to leave a lasting impression in my mind.

Let us seek the benevolence of these divine gems - purest ray serene - for the return of our past spiritual glory and sustained peace in the world.