Ramana's Sense of Humor

[srkudai]

I was reading Sri Kanakammal's memories of Ramana.
They are very interesting ...
This particular story was really interesting...

An old gentelman cam to Ramana and asked some questions... and Ramana replied
"Do you know who he is? He was my teacher and i ran away from my home town only to escape his questions. I thought I escaped from him, but he seems to have followed me to Arunachalam with his questions "

The simple stories are very interesting to read!

Love!
Silence

[Subramanian.R]

Dear srkudai,

Bhagavan Ramana's humour was quite subtle but would never
wound any one.  There are a number of examples and Kunju
Swami and Kanakammal have mentioned them. 

Once a table fan was fixed near Bhagavan Ramana's sofa.
It was giving more sound than cool breeze.  Bhagavan Ramana
said:  "Please take it away.  I have got a hand fan and that is
sufficient for me.  This makes more speeches than me."

Arunachala Siva.

[ramanaduli]

There is another story. Once some bhaktas were taking pradhshina along with Bhagavan., someone was singing tamil song on Lord muruga kavala kavala.
In telugu it gives meaning like " i want". So immedietly Bhagavan sang idli kavala like that. He came to know telugu and malayalam also in due course.


Ramanaduli

[Subramanian.R]

The Kavalane song in Tirupugazh mentioned by Ramanaduli is an
interesting story.

Once Bhagavan Ramana and devotees were going round the Hill.
It was midmorning.  Vallimalai Satchitananda Swamigal was
chanting Tirupugazh song:  Vedichi Kavalne.... means "the
king or lover of Vedichi, the huntress VaLLi of Muruga.  There
were some Telugu devotees too.  They were simply repeating
without knowing the meaning just as I sing Tyagaraja's Telugu
kirtans!  Bhagavan Ramana looked at one of the Telugu devotees
and asked him:  Ememi Kavalane?  Enthenthu Kavalane?  What
are the things that you want?  How much do you want?  The
simple Telugu devotee, who was already hungry said:  Idli
Kavalane.  Vadai Kavalane.  Coffee Kavalane.

Lo and behold, with in a few minutes, a devotee was seen from
the opposite direction, with  baskets full of hot hot idlis and
vadas, and mouth watering sambhar in a bucket and a large
drum of hot coffee.  All including Bhagavan Ramana sat down
and ate the idlis, vadas and coffee!

Venda thakkathu ariyvoi nee
Venda muzhuthum tharuvoi nee.   
Vendum Ayan marku ariyoi nee
Vendi ennai pani kondai  (Manikkavachagar - Tiruvachakam)   

You know all that I want.
You give all that I want.   
You are rare to Brahma and Vishnu*
You loved me and ruled over me.

(* Brahma and Vishnu asked with egotistic mind.  Hence
He became rare.)

Arunachala Siva.

[ramanaduli]

We really do not know what to ask, when to ask and how to ask from God. There are many saying. Some people say we should not ask anything from God. Because He
knows what to give and which is suitable for us. Other way some say, unless the child cries, mother never comes to feed the baby. So we have to ask.
Some say we have to do samarpanam so it is the highest bhakti. There is nothing to ask whatever He gives us it is ok.

But my personal feeling it is ok to do samarpanam for a sanyasi. but not for family people. Even when Bhagavan asked what people wanted. They told they
wanted idlies. Because I think, very few people only might have got thirst for Brahma jnanam and they could know He is brahma janani. Like Muruganar, Ganapathy sastrigal. It is like a frog who lives near the lotus but never knows there is honey but a bee comes from far away and drinks honey. So the understanding capacity also comes after many many births. And we have to ask from a right person, in right time. Whatever it may be I missed the golden period....

Ramanaduli

[Subramanian.R]

Dear Ramanaduli,

Brahman is realized by one whom Brahman wants.  Without
Siva's liking (or grace), no one can realize Siva.  That is why
Saint Manikkavachagar tells Siva:  "You know what I want.
You give me what you want."  Is this not quite safe?   But
most of us are not like this.  We want all sorts of things,
but not Siva's feet. 

Arunachala Siva.

[Subramanian.R]

There are many such anecdotes by Bhagavan Ramana. 

Once in Pachaiamman Kovil, Bhagavan Ramana was staying.
With Him was Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri, Viswanatha Swami,
Kunju Swami and others.  This is the famous place where Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri composed his Uma Sahasram.

One day, Bhagavan Ramana was sitting with a group of monkeys.
He was telling those creatures:  This body is impermanent.  It
will not last long.  The Atma within is real and permanent.  It
should be meditated upon.  Some monkeys were listening and
some others were jumping here and there.  Viswanatha Swami
then laughed and told Bhagavan Ramana:  "Bhagavan!  You
are telling self enquiry to monkeys.  What do they understand?"

Bhagavan Ramana looked at him and said:  "Viswanatha! Even
amongst you, how many of them have understood Atma Vichara?
I am also telling you the same thing." 

Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri rolled on the ground and laughed
to his heart's content!

Arunachala Siva.

[Subramanian.R]

Vaikunta Vasan was one of Bhagavan Ramana's attendants
during His last years.  He used to sleep in the Old Hall on
a mat very near to Bhagavan Ramana's sofa.  One night,
when Vaikunta Vasan woke up in the middle of night, he found
a serpent under his mat.  He jumped in fear and almost stood
on Bhagavan's sofa.  Bhagavan Ramana said with a smile:

" Oye!  Vaikunta Vasa!  Why are you afraid?  You are Vaikunta
Vasa (Narayana).  Your bed (Adisesha - serpent) has come to
see you.  Why are you afraid?"  He looked at the serpent and
said:  Oye!  Adisesha!  Go away. Vaikunta Vasan is afraid of you!"

The serpent quietly moved out.  It should be smiling within itself!

Arunachala Siva.

[Subramanian.R]

Once Bhagavan Ramana was strolling on the Hill.  As we know
that His legs were weak and He was using a stick and used to
keep each pace carefully on the hilly terrain.  One day, a young
boy came and suddenly held His leg and cried:  "Bhagavan!  Please
give me mukti.  Please give me mukti."  Bhagavan Ramana could
not even take His leg and the next step.  He felt that He would
fall at anytime if that boy did not leave His legs.  The boy continued
to beg without leaving His leg.  Bhagavan Ramana then said:  "Aye!
Please give me mukti first and then we shall see!   The attendant
rushed from behind and asked the boy to go away.

Yan unai thodarnthu chikkena pidithen
Engezhunthu aruluvathu iniye? 

     -  Tiruvachakam, Piditha Pathu,  Decad on Holding Firm.

I followed you and held you tight and firm,
Where can you go and grace hereafter?

Arunachala Siva.
     

[Subramanian.R]

Dear srkudai,

Yes.  A few devotees started doing Pradakshina of the Old Hall.
I think it was started by Tenamma, the kitchen worker.  Then
many like Suri Nagamma followed suit.  Bhagavan Ramana said:
This is not at all warranted.  Even namaskaram to Me, prostrations,
is not warranted.  Then He quoted Ribhu Gita:  I am revolving
around the Brahman within and I am prostrating to the Brahman
within.

Arunachala Siva.   

[Subramanian.R]

Yes.  Once some attendant, I think it is Vaikunata Vasan, put
a lot of burning coals and a liberal quantity of dasanagam.  The
smoke rose like wild fire and it choked Bhagavan Ramana and
everyone in the Hall.  Bhagavan Ramana chided them saying:
"You do such things for Kallu Samy, the stone image of God,
(including Ramana's in the Mother's Temple) and they will not
complain.  I am different.  I have to breathe."

Such dasangam and agarbathis were purchased from Mysore
or from local shops which were selling Mysore products.  Once
when Mysore Maharajah came to see Bhagavan Ramana, he
appreciated that very much and asked for the brand name so
that he could send some large quantities, from wherever these
are available.  The devotees laughed and said:  Maharajah, this
is from your city!

Some one else said:  Who is giving divine fragrance to such dasangam?

It is Bhagavan and not the sticks and dasangam per se."

Arunachala Siva.