YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR The Divinity at Tiruvannamalai Juge T.S. ARUNACHALAM

Mahatmas countless in number, a boon indeed to India, in absolute seclusion, either in the Himalayas or elsewhere are constantly engaged in Tapas and Dyana, invoking the mercy of the Almighty, for transformation through reformation, of the Humanity, so that the globe can be a Haven of Peace, Godliness and Unity combined. They seek nothing for themselves, for they are already in communion with God, having realised the oneness of Jivan and Brahman. If the human community has in its fold eighty percent of good people and twenty percent of not-good people the law-enforcing agency, may be able to tackle the situation. Imagine the vice versa - there will be only chaos and the law enforcing agency can only be a mute spectator. If that vice versa has not happened it is only due to the spiritual powers of Mahatmas, I have referred to above.

Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar Guru Maharaj, who is the Avatara Purusha in human form, could as well have been, in absolute seclusion, as those in the same wave length, but if He had chosen to step down from the pinnacle to poignant ground reality, it is our greatest good fortune, for through Him, we see, hear and realize God's presence, while chanting His 'nama' and unconsciously, become aware of, 'transformation', silently performed by Bhagavan. Avatara Purushas mingle with the mundane, to lift up the latter, to lofty levels of 'Atman' realisation. This spiritual work, in the comprehension of Mahatma Gandhi, is the perfect link between the Divine and the Deserving.

If I boldly state, that there is Renaissance now in our society, there cannot possibly be, a divergent note. Divine thoughts, sincerity to work, love for the Nation, periodical visits to Temples and Saints, with absolute faith in the Almighty, was a part of the disciplined way of life in the past. Then we passed through a stage, which little by little is now getting extinct, when questions where hurled, "Where is God ? Have you seen the Almighty ? In these days of advanced science how can we believe in God's existence, with- out seeing Him?" Those interrogators, presumably may have to erase that cloud of confusion, for science gets its logic terminated at a point, while Divinity is infinite. This reality is well on its path, of undisputed recognition.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, when queried, told Swami Vivekananda, that He had seen God and He can also show Him to the latter. A few non-believers seated before Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, were covering themselves with their upper cloths and holding them, least they fly off, due to the strong wind blowing then. Ramakrishna asked them "Why are you covering yourself and holding the upper cloths?" The reply was, "Wind is blowing". Ramakrishna asked, "Where is the wind?". Those non-believers then realised, that though the wind could not be seen, its presence can be experienced. So it was with God. A devotee recollected Yogiji's assertion'. "God is not an object. It is a subject. We cannot see It, but we can feel It." Is not alikeness of thoughts stunning ?

Kanchi Paramacharya posed a question and answered it too, in his inimitable style.

Question: It is said the Guru is greater than Ishvara and that Guru Bhakti is more effective than Ishvara Bhakthi: Why is it so ?

Reply : No one has seen Ishvara. If the person whom we see is ever pure and clean with Jnana and steadfast in his mind, acts and deeds, the peace of mind that we expect from Ishvara, is attained, from that person, the Ishvara-Guru combination.

I remember to have read Papaji's declaration, that if one chants Ram-Nam, running to a few crores, Rama will appear before him, and that was a certainty. The chanter need not have to keep account of the numericals, for RAMA takes care of it. Guru, thus understood in the Vedas, is the Avatar of the Lord.

Periodically, when this world is in need of a Saviour, to erase Adharma and uphold Dharma and thereby lead the world in the path of righteousness, the Almighty christens Himself into Avatars, and chooses to live in our midst, to light the path of salvation, for the ultimate good of the Humanity. True to the declaration in Bhagavad Gita, for establishment of Dharma and spiritual upliftment of Humanity, the Lord has taken His abode at Tiruvannamalai, in the human form of Yogi Rainsuratkumar. That it is so, is the experience of devotees, who have comprehended HIM in a variety of Divine Forms.

The 'Beggar' and 'Dirty Sinner' at Tiruvannamalai, is a gem, purest ray serene. Be it, He is God or one ever in communion with God, that can hardly make any difference to us, for doubtless HE is the GURU visualised by Paramacharya. In his conception a Yogi is one who is not affected by grief, sin or blemish in the mind. Mind is the cause of grief. If the dirt in the mind is cleansed, it would turn towards Paramatina, of its own accord. Only through discipline and control, can the mind be cleansed of its dirt. A Yogi is one whose mind bas reached the Paramatma and will not accept anything else. To the Yogi, not even the greatest misery will assail his mind - A Yogi is full of awareness. He is always full of bliss, without desiring anything.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the Bikshandar (Beggar) is Parameshvara Himself. Why then does he hide his 'Parameshvaram' and proclaim himself as a 'Dirty sinner' ? Is that indicative of the path carved out by Him, for us to tread, in search of the inner self ? Is it reiteration of Divine Mother Madalasa's clarion calls to her sons, that they were Niranjanas (Blemishless Souls) ?

Let us now have a pen-picture of our Yogiji. He is clad, visibly, not in clean clothes. Does it indicate the dire need of internal purity ? His dhoti is worn in traditional style with a loose jibba (kurta), almost touching His knees - a long shawl most often dark ash in hue, is carelessly worn across, leaving his right shoulder region visible. He holds a double palmyrah fan and a coconut shell in His right hand, along with a 'Thandam' of miniature size. A recent addition is a long coir rope, minimised in its size, in an oval form, which most often is round on the right arm or right shoulder and sometimes on the neck as a garland. A green cloth casually tied as a turban adorns His head. The long white beard in its grandeur, reminds one of scrambles of stolen butter falling out of child Krishna's mouth. The left thumb and index finger are often linked, symbolically rolling the visually non-existing rudrakshas. Is that the Chin-mudra of Lord Dakshinamurti, though strictly we may not be Sanakathis. Graceful Glimpses of His 'Avatara', occasionally projected, should have to be distinctly noticed, and taken inside us, for eternal preservation. A concrete instance is available in Mr. N.S. Mani's article. The fast walk, inside the Darshan Mandir, while blessing the expectants is at once majestic and reminds one of a major general accepting a guard of Honour. Trait of notionally writing on Himself 'OM' or 'RAMA' apparently in Hindi, cannot escape a discerning eye. One cannot miss the Charminar cigarettes, which he liberally smokes, sometimes even without any interval in between. The ashtray before Him will be rather thought-provoking. All the cigarettes are not smoked to their ends. Some may seek their abode in the ashtray, with a single or a few puffs, while some others may reach their extremities. Cigarettes of various lengths puffed or unpuffed, will attract any critical eye. I understand, that this smoking exercise is directly proportional to the Karma quotient of the devotees thronging before Him. It is believed firmly, that the waving fan drives away, all our sins. It will be our duty, not to allow fresh accumulation, of that extraneous matter. The smoke inhaled, very rarely Has an outlet. The strong smell of cigarette smoking, we normally feel, is conspicuous by its absence, while a sweet fragrance emanates in that process.

Yogiji's reverence and affection to Paramacharya, are unique. Yogiji is not a hermit, but a sage, doing his Fathers duty, for our upliftment. To me, the ringing words of Yogiji ' 'Father alone exists; Nothing else; Nobody else;' punctuated with "He is all pervading, Here, There, Everywhere," instinctively leave an indelible impression, that Yogiji alone can be That FATHER, the amalgam of SON and FATHER.

On an eventful day, Yogiji joined a few Sadhus who were on their onward journey, in a van, to a place near Thanjavur, to partake in a Sadas, to be inaugurated by Paramacharya. When the group reached their destination, they found Maha Periyaval already in the midst of His anugraha bashyam. While the others quickly found their seats in the auditorium, Yogiji excluding himself, chose to stand near a Pillar, ( Is He not that proverbial pillar of Fire of Arunachala) raptly concentrating on the utterances of that Divine Voice of Paramacharya. Renounced seers and sages can have no problem in locating those, in their wavelength, and hence it cannot be a matter of surprise that the Preacher called the Yogi and specifically pointed out a comer seat in the front row, for his occupation. That having been done, the Kanchi Pontiff continued His oration, during the course of which He referred to Evolution and Involution. Paramacharya then pointed out Yogiji and exclaimed, that he was one who had established communion with Brahman, through the process of Involution. Instinctively the attention of the audience stood diverted towards Yogiji, with a few, attempting to near Him, their co-traveller. Paramacharya directed them back to their seats. These "Seatings" I recognise, have material significance, for Yogiji who allots seats to His devotees, cannot brook even an involuntary change, for He alone knows all about His Fathers work, which shall not be disturbed. That KANCHI and ARUNAI have close links through the saints coronate, is a matter of History.

The need for Ram-Nam scribing, which Paramacharya strenuously emphasized, is in complete synchronization with the Ram-Nam movement, firmly advocated by Yogiji. Those who have seen Yogiji in the inner hall, in his erstwhile Sannadhi street residence, and Paramacharya, in His usual quarters in Kanchi Mutt or elsewhere on his tour, will certainly agree that these TWO ' AVATARA PURUSHAS were in their extended sanctum sanctorums - Kamakshi and Annamalaiar where is the scope for any doubt, that these Gods had descended down to Mother Earth, to be in our midst, leaving the Devas in eternal search for them, to elevate us from mundane to spiritual plane, to facilitate ultimate salvation.

It is human weakness, often mistaken to be ingenuity, that tends to pose questions like, 'If Yogi Ramsuratkumar is God incarnation, why is it our ills and problems are net made to vanish ?'Little do the interrogators realise the Advaita concept of souls imperishable and cycle of rebirths. A person can get only that much he deserves. People not so good, may ostensible be recipients of unexpected windfalls, while those absolutely devoted, may be put to incessant sufferings. Imagine ail that, the not good ought to have normally received, but for lack of goodness, which left them only with benefits in fringes and equally the act of the Saviour which had minimised the problems of the staunch devotee and had in fact excluded a macroscopic calamity. It is impossible for us to conceive the inscrutable ways of God. We must have Faith and Belief, unalloyed, that we are bound to receive, ail that we deserve, which is only known to Him and none else.

If God takes the Human Form, He does not exclude Himself, from the usual trials and tribulations, common to Humanity. If that not be so, why should have Rama gone on exile for 14 years to the Forest ? What was the need for Pathivritha Sita Devi to consent for Agni Pariksha ? How was it that Lord Krishna had allowed Himself to be tormented ? What was the cause for Ramana Maharishi to have permitted painful cancer to clutch Him ? Why should Yogi Ramsuratkumar have been without quarters and food for several years with a short landing in a police station, during emergency ? When God descends to Bhulokha, He is one with us, suffering being no exception, so that ultimately we can become one with Him. Science, Logic and quixotic questions must yield to Faith, the only passport for salvation.

That for 'Realisation', the twin requisites are steadfast Faith in God and Dedicated Bhagavan Nama Sankirtana,
"Yogi Ramsuratkumara
Yogi Ramsuratkumara
Yogi Ramsuratkumara
Jaya Guru Raya"
appear to be the prime message of Yogiji. Who can fathom the fathomless Yogi Ramsuratkumar, who in His grace, to emancipate us, occasionally gives out glimpses of HIMSELF.