Rameshwaram
We had obtained Shriji's permission to meet his family by going to Madras. After deciding to go to Rameshwaram we had informed Shriji's family of our coming to Madras by writing a letter to them.
Shriji with Younger Brothers & Sister
Shri ji's broher Shri Mohanji had sent us a photograph of his younger brother Jyoti, sister Indira and himself so that we could identify them at the Madras railway station whereas we had sent them Shriji's photograph.
Shriji & His Parikar Start from Vrindavan
These days saint Gangaram, whom the readers are already familiar with, was living in Madras itself. He had a large circle of
associates there. We had sent him a telegram informing him about our arrival. Along with Shriji, Deviji, Ghanshyamji, Deviji's father, Krishnaji, Kusumji, Rasikbihariji and I started for the pilgrimage to Rameshwaram from Vrindavan.
Shriji With His Inner Circle of Devotees in Ganga Mandir
The living of the inmates of Ganga Mandir was austerely simple so there was no monetary arrangement. Managing to somehow arrange for the expenses which would be incurred on the journey we departed and reached Madras on the third day.
Standing on the platform along with many of his devotees, saint Gangaram held a garland in his hands to welcome Shriji. Mohanji (Shriji's brother) had been intimated of our arrival by telegram but the date therein read wrongly so he could not come to the station.
Standing on the platform along with many of his devotees, saint Gangaram held a garland in his hands to welcome Shriji. Mohanji (Shriji's brother) had been intimated of our arrival by telegram but the date therein read wrongly so he could not come to the station.
Saint Gangaram Held a Garland for Shriji
As soon as Shriji got down from the train Gangaramji garlanded him and taking him, came out of the platform. He had brought two cars with him. Getting into them we all went to Shri Gangaramji's residence. Carpets had been laid out and arrangements had been made beforehand. Many men and women were present for Shriji's darshan. After taking refreshments Shriji rested for a while. I asked Gangaramji to locate Mohanji so he instantly sent a disciple with me.
Egmore Railway Station
In any case, I had the camera with me. Since we had got down from the train I was sequentially taking all the photographs of Shriji. Now, I clicked the camera to take a photograph of Shriji's first meeting with Mohanji. Along with Shriji he took all of us to his house. It is a custom here that if the mother and son meet after an interval of twelve years, the mother first sees the reflection of her son's face in the mirror and then sees his face.
So Shriji's mother sat in a room with a mirror in her hand. Shriji came from the back and looked into the mirror. After seeing the reflection of Shriji's face his mother turned around and saw the face of her son in front. She impatiently caught her long- separated son with both her hands and hugged him to her heart. This meeting was remarkable. Venerable mother Kamalamma's heart instantly overflowed with emotion when she saw Shriji after so many years.
A Hand Mirror
So Shriji's mother sat in a room with a mirror in her hand. Shriji came from the back and looked into the mirror. After seeing the reflection of Shriji's face his mother turned around and saw the face of her son in front. She impatiently caught her long- separated son with both her hands and hugged him to her heart. This meeting was remarkable. Venerable mother Kamalamma's heart instantly overflowed with emotion when she saw Shriji after so many years.
However, Shriji was a saint
so he seriously went on consoling his mother. All his brothers and sisters sat
down, surrounding him.
What his mother spoke to Shriji out of maternal impulse
in Tamil, is indescribable. She was speaking continuously. Because of being
ignorant of this language we were not able to understand a word but could make out
that the mother was irrigating her son with the water of motherly affection.
Gradually the atmosphere became normal and the mother as well as family members
busied themselves in making arrangements for serving us meals. Shriji's father
had gone on a pilgrimage since the past few months so we could not see him.
Offering some leaves and flowers to Shriji's mother, we touched her feet.
The Tamil Script
Shriji with Elder Sister Yadugiri
Yadugiri, the elder sister
of Maharajji, was at home. Her husband Ram Ayyangar was working as a doctor in
a ship of the merchant navy and used to reside in Madras itself. He would
visit Shriji and tape all the padas sung by him. One fine day he took
Shriji and all of us to his bungalow by car. He showed the bungalow, garden and puja room to Shriji.
Sister Yadugiri's husband applied a sandal paste tilak[2] and
garlanded Shriji besides serving meals to him and his circle of associates. The
menu consisted of dishes typical of that region. He kept a list of the
delicacies by the side of each of us and told us about the items while serving
them.
Shriji's Mother Pampered Him
For full fifteen days,
Shriji's mother pampered her son to her heart's content, applying ubtan[3],
bathing him with her own hands, oiling his hair and combing them and serving
food herself after she had cooked it.
Bangalore
Staying here for a span of fifteen days
we went to Shriji's younger sister Vedavalli's place in Bangalore. She too met
Shriji very lovingly. Shedding tears she reminded Shriji of that day when he
had renounced home and left her sleeping. Her husband was out of station
so we could not meet him. Staying with her for eight days we started on our
pilgrimage to Rameshwararm.
The Meenakshi Temple
Within eight days we visited the sacred sites of
Rameshwaram, Srirangam, Tirupati Balaji, Meenakshi Temple etc., and came back
to Madras. Staying her for two days, we bid farewell to return to Vrindavan.
The entire family came to
the railway station to see us off. Shri Gangaramji had also come with his group of disciples. Shriji had to just board the train when his mother's love burst
forth. Streams of Ganga and Yamuna flowed from both her eyes.
“ Kindly take good care of
Sampat Kumar,” she told me in a voice choked with emotion.
The Train Chugged Off
The whole scene was very touching as tears were streaming down the cheeks of of Shriji's brothers and sister. Shri Gangaram garlanded Shriji and all of us. Soon after, the train chugged off. The whole lot of them stood motionless like a painted picture with tears flowing from their eyes. In due time all of us reached Shri Dham Vrindavan.
Shri Vrindavan
His family members wrote to Shriji's father about Shri ji's arrival in Madras and his return to Shri Dham. A month later he reached Vrindavan after performing his pilgrimage. Shriji had been informed about his father's coming to Shri Dham but he did not wish to meet him at once. Shriji felt that the intensity of his father's affection for him should lessen on his coming here before they met. Therefore Shriji remained imperceptible for a couple of days in Vrindavan. Not finding him on his arrival, the father was very distressed. Somehow he passed those days, being consoled by us. We would inform Shriji of his father's condition every day. Even though he stayed in a family his lifestyle was saintlike. He was tall like Shriji and bore panchkesh[4]. Of course, he was fair-complexioned.
The Lanes of Vrindavan
So Shriji's father roamed about in the lanes of Vrindavan singing devotional hymns and ringing cymbals. As decided, Shriji came in the morning of the fourth day when his father was wearing just a kopeen or loin-cloth and having oiled his body was waiting to take a bath. He forgot everything the instant he saw Shriji. He ran to him and hugged Shriji in that very state. Weeping, he kept mumbling something in his language, in a choked voice. Shriji sat seriously, speaking one or two words of consolation in between. His father was clinging to him in several ways. Seeing his condition it seemed as if he had become insane.
Shriji's Father Hugging Him
Shriji's Father Showers Affection on Him
Shri Banke Bihari ji, Vrindavan
Rishikesh
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