Afternoon
An old lady, a Brahmin widow, was talking to Bhagavan in the hall, recollecting various incidents connected with her family and Bhagavan, during Bhagavan’s stay in Virupakshi Cave and Skandasramam. Thereupon I asked T.S.R. who the lady was. He said she was the widow of one Mr.Venkatramier of Madura who stayed with Bhagavan for a long time and was greatly attached to Bhagavan. Thereupon Bhagavan asked me, “Haven’t you met him? His photo must be in our groups in the Life.” I said “No”. Then Bhagavan asked T.S.R. to get a copy of the first edition of Self-Realisation by B.V.N., He took out a group photo (second Jayanti) and showed us the above Mr.V.Iyer in that group.
The lady began singing some Tamil songs. Among them were the Ramana Stuti Panchakam songs. In this connection T.S.R. asked Bhagavan how many times the author of those songs had visited Bhagavan, and where he was now. Bhagavan replied, “He came only once when we were at the Virupakshi Cave. The first four songs, he wrote while he was here, one each day of his stay, and the fifth, the sadguru song, he sent after going to his place. He never again came here and we know nothing more about him. The day that he wrote the kummi song, Mr.M.V.Ramaswami Aiyar, probably Ramanatha Dikshitar, and others — all crazy chaps ( பைத்தியங்க ) — joined together at night and sang this song and did kummi.”
Afterwards the lady began singing a few extracts from Bharati’s ‘Kannan’ song - beginning with பிழைக்கும் வழி சொல்ல வேண்டுமென்றால். At once, Bhagavan asked the lady, “Do you know Alamelu? She used to sing this song.” The lady replied, “Yes. I know. It is through her I got acquainted with this song,” and continued her song.
I was going through a book on Ma Ananda Mayi, recently received by the Asramam. On pages 127-129 of the book the question is put as to whether she is to be deemed to be in the super-conscious state, knowing all, when she speaks in the ordinary way of the world, asking her disciples when they came, whether they have had their food, or how their family was, etc. She replied that in that super-conscious state there could be no conversation and no duality in fact; and that when she converses, she does so like other persons, and not with all knowledge. But she added, “There is another state when whatever I tell any particular person will be true.” I asked Bhagavan what was this state and what was its name. Bhagavan said, “I don’t know what they mean by it. Some are able to see what is hidden by time or space. But that is among the siddhis so called, and nothing to do with jnana or Liberation of the Perfected Being.”