Experiences with Maha Periyava: Do Snanam Ten Feet Away!

Sri Maha Periyava  Charanam 

Experiences with Maha Periyava: Do Snanam Ten Feet Away!

This happened in the year 1988. I was employed in a Bank and official responsibilities required me to travel to many places as a part of work. Once when I returned to Chennai after an official tour, I developed an allergy problem which resulted in boils and red bruises developing all over my body. Even a small amount of dust and eating certain vegetables aggravated the same.

It initially started with small boils but soon spread all over the body including my hands, legs and face, causing itching sensation on the entire body. This resulted in me taking leave of absence from office very often. None of the treatments that I underwent proved helpful. At last, I prayed to Paramacharya, Sri Maha Periyava but even that did not yield any positive result. I reconciled to the fact that I had to live the rest of my life with this disease.

        One day, my friend Sri.Srinivasan, an auditor, asked if I am willing to travel to Kurnool where Sri Maha Periyava was to begin the Chatur Masya fasting in Kurnool. What more could one want? Here I was being given “sugarcane to eat and in addition, being paid for eating also”. I immediately agreed to go with him. Secondly I also thought I could personally explain and appeal to Sri Maha Periyava regarding my health problem.

We reached Kurnool with plenty of luggage which included vegetables and provisions. We engaged a cycle rickshaw to take us to the place where Sri Maha Periyava had established His temporary camp. It was a pleasant experience as the riksha puller did not even demand or ask for any specific fare and happily took us.

Maha Periyava was camping in a cotton ginning mill, which was lacking in necessary facilities for a comfortable stay. However the owner of the Ginning Mill was a staunch devotee of Periyava and out of reverence he had for Maha Periyava, had closed the mill stopping all production activities for over four months to make arrangements for Sri Maha Periyava’s stay.

After unloading our baggage and other items, we informed Balu Mama regarding our arrival. He went inside to inform Maha Periyava of the same. He then came out and informed us that Maha Periyava would be proceeding to the river for His “Anushtanam” (Holy Bath) and also had asked both of us to have bath in the river after which we could come for Darshan.

We told Balu Mama that we had already taken bath in the Railway retiring room. However Balu Mama strictly asked us to go to the river and have our bath in the river water.

I found myself already developing red boils and bruises all over my body due to the dust in the Ginning mill. I also did not carry the ‘Cetzine’ tablet with me nor could I find any Pharmacy, nearby.

Since I did not know what to do, I decided to place my entire faith on Maha Periyava and decided that whatever happens, His Holiness Maha Periyava will take care of me. So I followed Maha Periyava to the river bank chanting ‘Hara Hara Shankara’ and offering a silent prayer in my mind to Maha Periyava to cure my ailment.

We reached the river bank. I found the river calm, the water flow was also normal and water was flowing in three divided streams. Maha Periyava stepped into the water and commenced his ‘Anushtanam’ (Holy Bath). I did not immediately step into the river and continued to remain on the river bank. 

I felt that I should have my bath after Maha Periyava completes His ”Anushtanam’ and hence waited. Maha Periyava who was taking his Holy Bath suddenly looked at me standing on the bank of the river called Balu Mama and said something. Balu Mama immediately climbed the river bank and told me that Maha Periyava has asked me to take bath. I asked Balu Mama as to where I should bathe as I did not want the water which I had bathed to reach and touch the Holiness. Balu Mama asked me to stand about 10 feet away from Sri Maha Periyava on the downstream side of the river. 

I immediately stepped in to the water at the place indicated on the downstream side and started bathing. Red boils and rashes had now formed all over my body and I could feel my whole body itching and burning as the cold water touched my body. Still I immersed myself fully in to the water. It was at this time that a thought struck me like a bolt and understanding came to me.

By that time Maha Periyava had completed his Holy Bath and stepped out of the river and commenced chanting of Mantra (japam). I also stepped out of the water and I could feel that the burning sensation in my body had reduced and the red boils and bruises also had lessened in intensity. I changed in to dry clothes and began apply “Vibhuthi” to begin my afternoon religious routines. Balu Mama came to me and handed over some “Vibhuthi” which was left after Maha Periyava had applied for Himself. Balu Mama informed that Maha Periyava had asked me to apply the “Vibhuthi” all-over my face, hands, shoulders and chest. I did as I was told. Then we all returned to the Cotton Mill and participated in the prayers.

On completion of prayers I approached Sri Maha Periyava to seek His blessings and Holy water. I suddenly realised that I did not have any boils or bruises on my body and the itching sensation also had disappeared. As Maha Periyava blessed me and offered the Holy water, He asked me, “Has the purpose for which you have come been accomplished?” Something struck me hard in my mind and I realised that it was the river water which flowed downstream towards me after flowing and touching Maha Periyava’s Holier than the Holy body and the “Vibhuthi” He offered to me to apply all over my body that had cured my disease. That too, I had never even mentioned anything to Maha Periyava, not even a word about my ailment.

Tears were streaming from my eyes as I fell flat on His feet to seek His blessings. I told Sri Maha Periyava that with His blessings and kindness my purpose had indeed been accomplished and we left His presence.

I asked my friend, Sitaraman how Maha Periyava could have come to know about my ailment, when I had not uttered a word to Him about the same. Sitaraman said, “Sri Maha Periyava is able to perceive and know the hardships, problems and ailments of His devotees even before they come to know about them”.

On that day my ailment was washed away by the waters of the Kurnool River. Till today, I am freed of that dreadful ailment even if I find myself in any dirty, dusty or filthy surroundings or eat vegetables such as brinjal etc, which normally used to trigger the rashes and boils. Never a day of Aradhana of Maha Periyava passes when I do not reverently remember, recollect and ponder about this incident and the ever flowing benevolence of Sri Maha Periyava.

Hara Hara Sankara !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara !!

Hara Hara Sankara !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara !!