Mastan Swami

Mastan Swami

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While it is true that every devotee who came to Sri Bhagavan was unique, one may perhaps rightly say that Mastan Swami was especially unique. Bhagavan Himself once said of Mastan Swami that, “the most advanced are ripe fruits, just waiting to fall. They only have to come into the presence of a jnani in order to plunge into a deep experience of the Self. One such devotee was Mastan. Mastan was in an entirely different category to most of the people who came. He was highly spiritual, although outwardly he looked like an ordinary man.”

When Mastan, the weaver, first came to Sri Bhagavan, along with Desur Akhilandathammal (Desur Ammal), another ardent devotee, all his earlier sadhana came close to their fruition. He was already conversant with advaitic texts, was imbued with intense dispassion and was prone to fall into trance-like states even as he worked on the family loom. Born a Muslim, he was utterly devoid of any caste, class or communal feeling. In fact, he said that liberation was his goal and it was not through any formal religion but through non-dual experience. And Mastan came to Ramana, the pure non-dual essence. The moment he had the darshan of Bhagavan, the supreme jnani, Mastan stood transfixed for several hours in deep samadhi. The word Mastan in Urdu means '(God) intoxicated' and our Mastan, true to his name, became inebriate with divine ecstasy by the grace of his Master. However, Mastan was not content even with the samadhi experience and sought and obtained from Bhagavan initiation into Nirguna upasana (Worship of the Formless, Attributeless Supreme). That put an end to all his doubts once and for all.

It was Desur Ammal who brought Mastan to Bhagavan. They would come all the way from Desur, which is about 70 kms away from Arunachala, carrying provisions for Sri Bhagavan and His devotees. Mastan would stay with Bhagavan till the provisions lasted and then go back to Desur. Mastan and Desur Ammal founded in 1914 Sri Ramanananda Matalayam, at Desur, the first ever centre in the world to be started in the name of Sri Bhagavan. Bhagavan's devotees, like Kunju Swami, Viswanatha Swami and Ramanatha Brahmachari, used to go there for rest and convalescence after illness. This Centre continues to serve Ramana devotees till today. Mastan wove towels and loin-cloth for Bhagavan on his loom. Bhagavan once said, “Mastan's craft, though it did not give food either to him or his parents, gave me clothes.”

Mastan Swami was absorbed in Sri Bhagavan on 8th November, 1931. His body was taken in procession in the local Siva temple's chariot (chapram) and given a burial worthy of a great sadhu. At Bhagavan's biddance, Kunju Swami went to Matam and participated in the Samadhi ceremonies. A Samadhi (tomb) was built where Mastan was laid to rest. Over the years, it has come to be treated as a shrine by the villagers.

Mastan's Samadhi, built over 70 years ago, needed renovation. Re-building was started on behalf of Sri Ramanasramam, on 6.12.2006 and donations came from devotees of Sri Bhagavan. Kumbhabhishekam (Consecration) of the renovated Samadhi was performed in a befitting manner on 14th September 2008. Devotees came in large numbers from Sri Ramanasramam including President V.S.Ramanan and Susila Ramanan, Desur, Matam, Salem and Coimbotore. After a sumptuous breakfast at the Ramanananda Matalayam, Desur, the devotees proceeded to Matam. Arunachala Akshara Manamalai and Ramana Stuti Panchakam were sung and the Priest of Sri Atulyanatheswarar Temple of Arakandanallur (where young Venkataraman had a brief halt on his way from Madurai to Arunachala in August 1896) performed Ganapati, Navagraha and Chatur Rudra homams as arranged by Sri Ramanasramam. A song specially composed for the occasion was sung, which was well received.

– Saranāgatī Oct 2008, pp.4,5