There is only one God. He is omnipresent. He is omniscient. His power is spread all over the cosmos. That luminous power manifests itself in various forms in this world for the benefit of Humanity. Forms may change but the source is the same. The spiritual friendship and connection between such divine manifestation - the avatar in the person of our Swamiji Yogi Ramsuratkumar, and another avatar in the person of the Sringeri Acharya (Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Maha Swamigal) as revealed by the incidents in our family is now shared with the readers of "Saranagatham".

We began to have darshan of Swamiji Yogi Ramsuratkumar as far back as 32-35 years ago (written in 2002). At that time my uncle (my mother's elder brother) Sri Venkatachalam was working as the Post Master at Tiruvannamalai. He was the first to have the opportunity to have darshan of Yogi Ramsuratkumar because of his spiritual leanings. Later, through him, all of us (in our family) had the opportunity to move closely with Swamiji. The more closely our family members moved with Bhagavan, the stronger became our ties.

Bhagavan used to drop into our uncle's house every day. Sometimes he would stay for several days in the house. We used to move with Bhagavan as if he was a member of the family. We used to call him Swamiji. He also liked being called "Swamiji". So He will be referred to in the article as "Swamiji".

Our family was in Namakkal. My Father Sri P.V. Srinivasan and others at home took frequent opportunities to visit Tiruvannamalai, to have darshan of Swamiji. I would say that God graced all of us to move closely with Him and get His blessings.

Since my father was interested in spirituality, he had the opportunity to move closely with Swamiji. They continued to meet, and at one period Swamiji began to pay special attention to my father.

Once my father, a close friend and a few relatives did the Girivalam in the company of Swamiji. Later, after midnight, Swamiji asked my father to massage his legs. My father attended on him. Suddenly early in the morning Swamiji told my father "you are a brahmachari (celibate) not a grihasta (house-holder". He repeated this several times, He said, "You might appear to be a householder in the eyes of the world, but this beggar knows very well that you are a brahmachari." My father understood and prostrated to Swamiji.
Later my father and my uncle Sri Radhakrishnan went to have darshan of Swamiji. They talked with Swamiji for a long time. Suddenly Swamiji said, "There is a tapasvi (an ascetic) in the making." My father and uncle could not understand. He looked deeply at my father for sometime and said, "You are transforming into an ascetic." My father said, "It is possible only with your grace." Silence ensued for the next few minutes. My father told me that Swamiji led him into a thought free state of deep peace. My father and my uncle prostrated to Swamiji and took leave.

The next meeting took place after a few days. It turned out to be a big turning point in my father's life. It became an unforgettable incident in the lives of members of our family and relatives.

Swamiji was sunk in deep thought during the meeting. Addressing my father, He said, "Srinivasji, please explain to this beggar in detail your relationship with the Acharyas." My father at once explained in detail about his relationship with the Acharyas of Kanchi and Sringeri. He said that he was so familiar to them that they called him "Srinivasa." (He also informed Him about the Rudraksha Mala given by the Paramacharya of Kanchi). Then Swamiji smilingly asked repeatedly about my father's relationship with the Sringeri Acharya. At that time, my father was mystified that Swamiji was persistently asking about this. Later Swamiji Himself explained. He told my father, "Srinivasji, it is time that you started intensifying your tapas."

"You must immediately go to Sringeri. The Acharya is going to give you the Padukas. You go there, receive the padukas and start the pooja. Hereafter you have no work except tapas. What you must do is do pooja to the Padukas and increase the number of Gayatri Japa which will be very good."

My father hesitantly told Swamiji that he felt that he was not qualified to do this and he was doubtful whether acharya would give him the padukas. At this Swamiji said, "Srinivasji, you are gully qualified for this" and said further that this is "Father's work" and therefore he should immediately go to Sringeri and receive the Padukas.

Thereafter my father and Shri Narasimhan, another uncle of mine, made the trip to Sringeri. They had their bath in the waters of the Tungabhadra, worshipped at the temple of Goddess Saradambal, and proceeded to have darshan of the Acharya. It appeared as if there was some festival in that place. It was more crowded than usual. My father was surprised when he saw the Acharya. The reason was that the Acharya was wearing a turban which was the same colour as that worn by our Swamiji. My Father prostrated before the Acharya. The Acharya enquired about his welfare and asked him where he was coming from. My father said that he had just been to Tiruvannamalai where he had darshan of a great Rama Bhakta, Yogi Ramsuratkumar and he was coming to Sringeri from there. At this the Acharya (Maha Sannidhanam Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Swamigal) exclaimed: "Oh! Yogi Ramsuratkumar, he became a Gnani (realised soul) long ago!" My father happily prostrated before the Acharya and said that Swamiji had sent him to the Acharya to receive the Padukas and therefore this request was submitted at His feet.

Acharya looked at my father and said, "Srinivasa, don't worry. The command hjas come from Ambal (Goddess Sarada) and therefore you will surely get the padukas."

The next day when my father had darshan of the Acharya, he smilingly enquired of my father "Srinivasa, are you going to give these padukas to Him?" (Swamiji). My father said, "No. No. He had directed me to receive the padukas from you and do the puja." The Acharya said, "Surely I will give you the padukas which you may worship. Ambal has already given the permission. It is necessary that you stay at Sringeri for a few more days. I am planning to perform special poojas to the padukas before handing them over to you and you must also participate in the Poojas."

The puja was conducted in a grand manner. After the conclusion of the puja, Maha Sannidhanam gave the priceless invaluable treasure, the padukas, to my father with his blessings. He also instructed my father on the method of doing puja to the padukas. My father later reached Namakkal with the Padukas. Swamiji at Tiruvannamalai was also duly informed.
Arrangements had been made to perform special puja to the padukas at the house of Shri Ramanathan, DSP., Chengalput (my mother's younger sister's husband). My father went to his house at Chengalput and performed puja to the padukas. This was also duly intimated to Swamiji. When Swamiji learnt that my father was staying at uncle's house and performing puja, He sent word that after concluding the puja he should come to Tiruvannamalai. My father accordingly met Swamiji and happily worshipped him. Swamiji directed my father to narrate everything that happened at Sringeri without omitting any detail. My father also described everything, in particular Maha Sannidhanam's remark that Swamiji had become a Gnani long ago when the name Yogi Ramsuratkumar was mentioned to Him. Swamiji made my father repeat this several times, laughed heartily moved away and disappeared. He returned laughing after a few hours and told my father, "Srinivasji, Sringeri acharya has blessed this beggar through you. This beggar is very happy." Then my father said to Swamiji; "I have obtained the padukas from the Sringeri Acharya only through you. This event is the divine lila between Gnani like you. I am only an instrument." Swamiji laughed heartily and said, "Srinivasji, a good thing has happened. These padukas will take you to the height of spiritual progress."

He further directed that special pujas be performed for the padukas at the house of my mother's elder brother Sri Venkatachalam for 12 days. Not only that, Swamiji Himself specially graced the pujas on all the twelve days by attending every day.

Swamiji told my father, "Srinivasji! You must not to any work thereafter. You have to complete your tapas. Therefore you must regularly perform the paduka puja and complete the recitation of one crore gayatri mantra and fulfil your vow." My father said it can be done only with Guru's Grace.

My Father told me the following before he passed away. "It is difficult to get to know even one Mahatma. But our Swamiji's kindness (Grace) was such that it increased our spiritual connection with Maha Sannidhanam (the Sringeri Acharya) and through him the grace of the Goddess Saradambal." My father informed me that Swamiji has declared that everything is in these padukas. Therefore worshipping the padukas is equivalent to worshipping both (Swamiji and Acharya). He also said that we can only experience Swamiji's Grace, it can never be measured.

May his Ashram be eternal!