I had recently finished the autobiography of V.V. Sridhar Guruji. Before I discuss the book let me introduce the author. My only sources of information on the Guru are my immediate relatives and the two brief time we shared pleasantries during his visit to my aunt's place.
My aunt was introduced to the Guru by one of our family friends. And a few days later, when she called up mom to invite us home for the Guru's visit, I first heard of him. I instantly dismissed him and his credentials with my usual skepticism for living, self proclaimed saints and gurus. I did not join my parents the first time he visited my aunt but I reluctantly agreed to join my parents when he visited them again.
The first time I saw him, I saw a tall, elderly, bespectacled, bearded person who was clearly overweight. He was clad in a simple yellow dhoti and an angavastram and had himself smeared with the 12 thiruman kaapu (1 on the forehead, 3 on your belly, 1 each on your arms, 3 on the front of your neck, 1 at the center of the chest, 1 each on the center of your upper and lower back). He unassumingly walked through the door enquiring everyone, who was there to greet him, of their well being. My first surprise was when I saw that he knew everyone's name. My uncle later told me that he remembers the name of each and every devotee of his. That definitely is something that must go on a resume, no? I've been chided multiple times by my friends for forgetting something or the other. Maybe, I should start reminding them of the time I came 2nd in a memory contest (although it was in class 5). Ok I'm digressing. Now back to the guruji.
Next, my uncle and about 30 odd people who had turned up to see him gave whatever gifts (fruits, dhotis, cash etc.) they could afford and had brought along and sought his blessings. I was introduced to him by my aunt and we shared simple pleasantries. My answers (some were monosyllabic) were full of skepticism and I listened more than I spoke. I'm not sure if he read through my thoughts although I'm willing to wager on the side of "yes, he did". He was quizzing me on how everything was in college when another family walked in to seek his blessings. I quietly and quickly slipped into the background avoiding his gaze and any further questions. I have always been uncomfortable when put in a spotlight and such a situation was quickly taking root.
He then requested for a private room where he could hear out each of his devotees'. One by one families met him in private to discuss their troubles and issues and determine how long it would be before the bad phase would pass. From later interactions with relatives I understood that he always had positive words for them and also suggested parigarams wherever necessary.
Over the course of the next few years I came to know that he frequently asked about me during his interactions with my aunt. I was flummoxed by the fact that he remembered me inspite of our meeting being no more than a couple of minutes and also because I hadn't done/ spoken anything noteworthy during those minutes to be in his memory. The respect I had for the guruji increased substantially on hearing this.
When I was later talking with my uncle, he told me that the guruji was a scholar in all 4 vedas and other sacred texts and rituals and was the highest authority in the land when it came to a particular part in atharvana veda, which was considered the most rigorous and difficult to master.
During one of my recent visits to Chennai, my uncle told me that Guruji had recently released a book discussing some aspects of his life. I was more than interested to read the book especially after my uncle said that he was now feeling afraid to face Guruji after reading the book. A fear that manifests out of respect and submission that he was indeed in contact with a great man without even knowing so. And that is when I decided I had to read the book and when I did read it I completely understand what my uncle meant.
My aunt was introduced to the Guru by one of our family friends. And a few days later, when she called up mom to invite us home for the Guru's visit, I first heard of him. I instantly dismissed him and his credentials with my usual skepticism for living, self proclaimed saints and gurus. I did not join my parents the first time he visited my aunt but I reluctantly agreed to join my parents when he visited them again.
The first time I saw him, I saw a tall, elderly, bespectacled, bearded person who was clearly overweight. He was clad in a simple yellow dhoti and an angavastram and had himself smeared with the 12 thiruman kaapu (1 on the forehead, 3 on your belly, 1 each on your arms, 3 on the front of your neck, 1 at the center of the chest, 1 each on the center of your upper and lower back). He unassumingly walked through the door enquiring everyone, who was there to greet him, of their well being. My first surprise was when I saw that he knew everyone's name. My uncle later told me that he remembers the name of each and every devotee of his. That definitely is something that must go on a resume, no? I've been chided multiple times by my friends for forgetting something or the other. Maybe, I should start reminding them of the time I came 2nd in a memory contest (although it was in class 5). Ok I'm digressing. Now back to the guruji.
Next, my uncle and about 30 odd people who had turned up to see him gave whatever gifts (fruits, dhotis, cash etc.) they could afford and had brought along and sought his blessings. I was introduced to him by my aunt and we shared simple pleasantries. My answers (some were monosyllabic) were full of skepticism and I listened more than I spoke. I'm not sure if he read through my thoughts although I'm willing to wager on the side of "yes, he did". He was quizzing me on how everything was in college when another family walked in to seek his blessings. I quietly and quickly slipped into the background avoiding his gaze and any further questions. I have always been uncomfortable when put in a spotlight and such a situation was quickly taking root.
He then requested for a private room where he could hear out each of his devotees'. One by one families met him in private to discuss their troubles and issues and determine how long it would be before the bad phase would pass. From later interactions with relatives I understood that he always had positive words for them and also suggested parigarams wherever necessary.
Over the course of the next few years I came to know that he frequently asked about me during his interactions with my aunt. I was flummoxed by the fact that he remembered me inspite of our meeting being no more than a couple of minutes and also because I hadn't done/ spoken anything noteworthy during those minutes to be in his memory. The respect I had for the guruji increased substantially on hearing this.
When I was later talking with my uncle, he told me that the guruji was a scholar in all 4 vedas and other sacred texts and rituals and was the highest authority in the land when it came to a particular part in atharvana veda, which was considered the most rigorous and difficult to master.
During one of my recent visits to Chennai, my uncle told me that Guruji had recently released a book discussing some aspects of his life. I was more than interested to read the book especially after my uncle said that he was now feeling afraid to face Guruji after reading the book. A fear that manifests out of respect and submission that he was indeed in contact with a great man without even knowing so. And that is when I decided I had to read the book and when I did read it I completely understand what my uncle meant.
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తెలుగు భాషలో వారి ఆటోబయోగ్రఫీ వ్రాయలేదా స్వామీ..
వ్రాయబడినది..అహోబిలం లో జరిగే యజ్ఞానికి రండి..అక్కడ ఇవ్వబడుతుంది..
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