Story behind the photo : 155 B. Continue: “I shall provide you food two times a day”. After winding up the business, I reported to Swami. Swami reacted by saying, “You should not earn money hereafter. There should not even have any desire to earn money”. I told swami that I was mentally and physically becoming weaker and weaker. If Swami could give me small job in Parthi and give me 2 canteen meal tickets every day, I could shift to Parthi. Swami instantly reply was, “Canteen is not my Grand Parents property!”. There upon Swami told me how a Sadhu should live his life. While I was enduring those days in Tiruvannamalai, my second son, S. Ramesh reported about me to Swami. And Swami seems to have replied that, “Your father is fine”. With no cash with me I came to realize the bare facts. For my next food, I may have to beg. As the Sun was rising up, I was just praying to Bhagavan. I prayed that I should not be pushed that far. For a week or so, I had not shaved, or combed my hair. I looked like a street beggar, sitting on the rocky steps of a tank. After meditation, I was thinking what to do for food. I remembered Swami telling me that a sadhu can beg for food. But I found it very hard to adjust to this reality. It was almost 10 AM. A priest from the adjoining temple came down the steps to wash his face and hands. He was watching me with curiosity. He made up his mind and came to me. He enquired about me. He requested me to go with him to his home. He told me that he had put up a thatched pandal in front of his house, and there is a wooden bench over there. He pitied that I was sleeping on hard rocky floor in the steps of the pond. I accompanied him. After leaving me in front of his home, he walked off, to attend his duties in the temple. I was feeling very hungry. Nothing to eat, and no money to buy any food.. As the sun was rising to the midday level, I could no longer withstand the hunger. I got up, walked up the front door, and looked in. I thought I could ask for some food, if any persons come out. But I could not see anybody, even though the door is open. Then I understood the reality of the situation. The time has come for me to call out and seek for food. What does it mean? It means, “Begging for alms”. I remembered Swami had told me that a Sadhu can beg for food. But the self respect prevented me from calling out. I felt it is better to starve and die than begging for food. I went up to the door few more times. But I could not call out. But every time, I retraced my steps to the bench and sat down. It was extremely difficult to endure any longer. I may collapse any moment. By noon time, the priest came back. He was holding a vessel, covered by a cloth. He kept the vessel in front of me and told that he has brought food for me. He opened the vessel, and I found that there was a food called “Ven Pongal” which could be sufficient for five people. He told that this is the prasadam from the temple, and he was entitled to carry the same to his home, as a priest of the temple. “Please have this as your lunch, Swami. This is coming from the Lord.”, he said. Instantly the message flashed back in my in mind. That was the assurance given by Bhagavan Baba, long time back. His words were, “Where you may be, I will provide you food”. And this prasadam had come from the sanctum of a temple! I thanked my Swami for His kindness and partook a small portion. The lady fold came out and offered me water. I learnt many lessons from this experience. If I had come out of home without any money in my pocket, Swami would have looked after me. Swami was waiting for me to become a “ZERO”, and help came at the most crucial time. I spent a few days with this family, eating temple prasadam twice daily. With Love & regards, Mumbai Srinivasan.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 21:16:41 +0000
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