Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam

INTRODUCTION
Hari Om! Namaskaram from the Kanchi Periva Forum community.
We are very happy to launch yet another special ebook series, a huge treasure this one, on Experiences with Sri
Maha Periva. Yes, this is one of the wonderful best-sellers in Tamil titled Anbe Arule authored by a great writer
Sri Baraneedharan. More than just being an acclaimed, prolific writer, he is an extremely humble human being
and is an ardent devotee of Sri Maha Periva. He has a lot of books and articles to his credit almost everyone
is a jewel but the ones that outshine others are his travel accounts ( &
). It is a matter of great pride and satisfaction for us that this title is getting
translated and published through this Satsang.
Again, the translator (and mostly the illustrator too) of the series is a well-known, highly respected moderator
of our Forum Sri Narayanan Bala (known as anusham163 in our Forum), someone who has dedicated his life
to thoughts about Periva and working on something related to Periva all the time be it drawing, translation of
articles, new writing, sketching or a wonderful painting. He is so abundantly blessed by Perivas Divine Grace
and it shows in every step that he takes on any of these fronts. For this particular series, Sri Narayanan Bala has
taken lot of pains to conceive the idea, secured permission for translation personally from Sri Baraneedharan
and has put in so much of effort to get this treasure to all the Periva devotees at large. Our sincere thanks and
namaskarams to both Sri Baraneedharan and Sri Narayanan Bala for this outstanding effort.
When we decided to launch this series, we were looking for an appropriate time to commence and it struck us
that the Pratamai thithi certainly deserves a special place for us as our Perivas avatar on earth was on a
Krishna Paksha Pratamai. Like Sri Krishna Ashtami and Sri Rama Navami, Sri Periva Pratamai should become one
of the celebrated thithis in the future, and with such a desire, we decided to launch this as a regular series to
be published on Pratamai. It is certainly His final blessing that we launch it on a Krishna Paksha Pratamai and on
the day of Gayatri Japam today 30 Aug, 2015.
On behalf of this Forum and our respected members, I would also like to specially thank our moderator Smt
Sumi, who has put in a lot of effort in putting this title together and for getting it published well in time. We
humbly submit this e-book edition at the lotus feet of Sri Maha Periva. Though this book is for restricted
circulation among like - minded members of the society, this is a free publication which can be downloaded
from http://www.periva.proboards.com/. Feedback may be sent at [email protected]
Administrator
Kanchi Periva Forum

Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

TRANSLATOR S NOTE
Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah! Sri Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Charanam

Mr.Baraneedharan's book, 'Anbe Arule..' was the turning

point in my life, which moved me towards Maha Periva'.
After this only I started reading all the books by Sri
Ra.Ganapathy and Deivathin Kural. I also showed my first
ten oil paintings of Maha Periva to him who encouraged
me and blessed me by saying, "you will do 108 paintings
of Periva".
I submitted all these ten paintings to SriMatam. Later he
asked me to paint portraits of Sri Seshadri swamikal, Sri Ramanar and Sri MahaPeriva (I
quote him " these three Mahans were contemporaries; I want to display them in the Sri
Seshadhri swamikal maemorial in Chinna Kancheepuram on Sri Seshadhri Swamikal's
Jayanthi day.")

I did them and they were hung on the walls there on His Jayanthi day as planned. He
blessed me there with the 'Pattu Angavasthram' with which Sri Seshadri Swamikal's photo
was decorated during the homam and puja. Memorable day for me.
Because of his blessings only, I have completed 69 portraits and I am sure I will be able
to complete 108 with his and MahaPeriva's anugraham.
I welcome your feedback on this compilation. I can be reached on [email protected]

Narayanan Bala

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

ANBE ARULE - A HOLY TRIBUTE

For over thirty years, I had safely locked up in my heart, the various experiences I had
during the meetings with Sri Kanchi Mahan as well as the boons I had from His nectar
like speeches. For the past two or three years I had the urge to put them all in writing.
Last February (1993) I submitted my wish to Periava and got His permission and blessing
to write about them..
When I mentioned my wish to the editor of Vikatan, he provided me with a rare
opportunity to write them as a series in Vikatan
ANBE..ARULE....

itself. It was planned to start

from the Deepavali issue of last year and continue it till April this

year; the editor expressed his wish to release the complete episodes as a publication
from Vikatan and submit the same at the golden feet of Periava on His 101 st Janma
Nakshatram (birth star day).
But, the Almighty decided otherwise.
When the 10th episode of Anbe.Arule.. came out in print, Periava left His mortal body.
Now, on this 25th May, on the ANUSHA NAKSHATRAM, this book is being released as a
tribute to Periava.
All the Darsanams and experiences which appear in this book were written only from
my memory. I had not kept any notes on them. Before I started writing, I had a doubt
whether I would have sufficient matter to write for six months, and was anxious that all
those incidents should come back to my memory. Therefore, when I submitted the issue
carrying the first episode to Periava, I prayed to Him, I have started writing without
any written notes with me, Periava only should make it possible for me to recollect all
those incidents which I might not remember.
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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

My prayer to Periava did not go unanswered. When I was writing that weeks episode,
I had the amazing experience of suitable incidents appearing in my memory and falling
in right places ! I would also like to mention here that even after leaving His mortal
body, Periava was with me and was showering His love and blessings on me. Though I
had a doubt in the beginning, if I would have sufficient matter to last for six months,
when I completed the 26th chapter (as planned earlier), more incidents were lingering in
my mind ! The Love and Blessing from Kanchi Mahan would continue to swell and flow
as if from an Akshaya Pathram.
If even one reader thinks that I had written these incidents to boast myself of having
had

exclusive and unique experiences and wanted to trumpet it, then it would only

amount to a shortcoming in my writing, and not any fault of my heart.

I know that

there are lakhs and lakhs of persons who had had more thrilling experiences than my
own. Therefore, I always

see them as those that happened to me also and not as

those that happened to me only

I pray with my whole heart, that once having read these completely, the illusions of I,
MINE and FOR ME etc. , the illusory appearances of ONE WHO WROTE and ONE
WHO READ should leave us; that the Vishwa Roopa Dharsanam of the one TRUE
MATTER made up of LOVE and ANUGRAHA should only stay with us permanently, and
our soul and heart must be filled with the SACRED memory of that KARUNYA DEYVAM.
- Author Baraneedharan
28-4-1994
Year of BAVA
Month of Chiththirai
Guruvaram Anusham

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

CHAPTER 1
The work on the special issue of Anandha Vikatan for the 1981 Deepavali was going on
briskly. Only some more matters had to be printed. The matter for the first (chapter)
Form which was called Samarpana form (the first page submitted as an offering to
Kanchi Mahan) was getting ready.
Assistant editor Sri Gopalakrishnan called me and said, Please go to Ilayathankudi tonight
itself and get the Anugraha Bashanam from Periava.
When I came out of the room, I felt some tightness in my heart. My heart used to
jump with joy, whenever I got an opportunity to have His Darsan; but on this day, a
slight hesitation started nibbling at my heart. A journey which I wanted to avoid was
forced on me; I would not be able to skip it; My mind dangled between the sense of
duty and lack of courage.
There was a reason for my hesitation. An essay, titled Lava Kusa in Mylapore which I
had written in Vikatan four weeks ago, had created a big ripple among the readers. The
essay was a critique on Sri Senkalipuram Anantharama Dheekshithar, who was famous
in those days in delivering Pravachanam (Discourses). One day, I happened to hear the
Upanyasam on Srimad Ramayanam by him and his brother Sri Narayana Dheekshithar,
at Mayilai Vidhya Mandhir.

Some unwanted interceptions

came into an otherwise

excellent Upanyasam and marred it; it was jarring to my ears. That resulted in my essay
that night itself; the words came out real harsh due to emotions.
Letters condemning the essay started pouring in; at the same time, letters expressing
appreciation of the essay, which reflected the thoughts boiling in the minds of a lot of
readers, also came in.
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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

Some persons told me in person that I had wounded the feelings of Dheekshithars
admirers. Some others frightened me that a few important disciples of SriMatam had
said that I had even wounded the feelings of MahaSwamikal and consequently He was
very angry with me

and the next time I visited SriMatam, I would be severely

reprimanded by Him.
I was worried if I had written something which should not have been written, in a rash
manner and committed a sin. I did not share my feelings even with those who were
very close to me.
In this scenario only, duty drove me to Ilayathankudi where SriMatam had camped. I
calmed myself by saying (to myself), I have to meet Periava some day for sure; and
face the consequences of my article, and so prepared to leave on the mission that
night itself.
I learnt, through enquiry, that Ilayathankudi was near Karaikkudi and also how to reach
there.
I felt that it would be nice to have a company with me. I asked my friend
S.S.Krishnamurthy, who was also working in the office of Vikatan to accompany me. He
was a good photographer too. He had stayed with me for a few days in Sanskrit college,
Mayilai (Mylapore), in the year 1958, and had taken a lot of photos with Swamikals
permission, from early morning to late night, till He retired for the day. He had
unassailable faith in Periava and a placid devotion towards Him.
SriMatams camp was next to the temple in Ilayathankudi.it was 5.0 oclock early
morning Swamikal was talking to an elderly person, standing in the Sannidhi of Sri
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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

Chandramouleeswarar. There was a dim light around spread by the bronze lamps.
Krishnamurthy and I were standing a little away from there. Periava looked at us. Avoiding
directly looking at Him, I prostrated before Him quickly; Krishnamurthy had already finished
this.
Swamikal pointed towards me and asked the elderly person, Do you know him?
The person came near me, looked at me keenly, and said, I know.he draws political
cartoons in Vikatan under the name Sridhar. He comes to SriMatam in Madras very
often; I have seen him.
You know only the Sridhar who draws cartoons ? He also writes articles under the name
Baraneedharan; you do not know that ?
Fear pierced my heart; I started sweating.
Why Periava is mentioning this name now ? Is He going to reprimand me next for the
article LavaKusa in Mylapore? I am squarely trapped in this place; God ! Why Swamikal
is silent ? why not He ask me quickly whatever He wants to ask? Every second stretches
like a Yugam
The elderly person broke the silence. I have read all his articles. But I was not aware
that he is that person.. Thank God, the person stopped here. He did not say anything
about LavaKusa. Let him live hundred years !
I did not get the courage yet to look at Periavas sacred face or meet His kindly gaze.
I expected that question to be thrown at me anytime now.. What to answer.how to
answer ? I was practicing within my heart.
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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

Did you come for Darsan?

Swamikals kind enquiry flowed
into the ears like nectar.
Gopalakrishnan sent me here to
get Periavas message for the
Deepavali special issue..
Swamikal kept silent. After a few
minutes, He entrusted a task with
the elderly person and went inside !
Doubts started to raise in my mind. Why Periava went inside without saying anything ?
Is He angry with me for my article ? Is He postponing the enquiry connected with it?
Will we not get His message for this year ?
My face must have reflected the turmoil in my mind. Krishnamurthy lifted my low spirits,
Periava had heard our request. He may be thinking about itHe will call suddenly and
dictate the message. Wait and see..
I did not have any hope. Even upto 8A.M Swamikal did not send for me. I thought it
would be better if I reminded Him once more. I had the urge to leave the Matam at
the earliest after getting the message from Him.
Periava was giving Darsanam at the bank of the pond. I prostrated before Him and said,
Message for the Deepavali special issue

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

You may write something yourself this year.

I did not understand this. How can I write His message of Anugraham ?. What I thought
this morning may be correct. No message for this year. He is indirectly telling me that.
This is, no doubt, the punishment for the blunder I committed.
Swamikal called a young attendant who was assisting Him, and told him, They have
come down from Madras. They may have the habit of drinking coffee in the morning.
Give them some coffee which you prepare for your consumption.
The young attendant, did not answer, but signaled me to come and went away. Periavas
worldly hospitality overwhelmed me.
I again went and stood in front of Him in the evening to ask for the message.
Have you written ?
I kept silent.
Why are you not speaking ?
I do not know what to write
Write something and bring itgo!..
Again a shock ! Swamikal is making me cry, keeping That in mind ! I thought of falling
at His feet and ask for His pardon for writing

about Dheekshithar.. Swamikal went

away for His bath.

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

For the first time I confided in Krishnamurthy, my doubt and fear regarding my article
on Dheekshithar. He laughed and said, There may be nothing like that. Why are you
imagining things and worrying yourself ? Please write a few lines and show them to
Periava. Let us see what happens afterwards.
I cannot write a single line. Do you want me to write something absurd and get
humiliated ?
Please do not confuse yourself. Let us pray Periava and go to sleep. Tomorrow morning,
everything will be fine.-----He put a full stop to the conversation.
Next day, Periava, who was going to the pond for His bath saw me and stopped.
Have you written ?
A guilty feeling of not having done a given task was weighing upon me. I was shy even
to tell him no. It also hurt me the way Swamikal was testing me. With a question in
my inner mind What exactly is Periavas intention?, I just stood there without answering.
Who gave you coffee yesterday?
I told Him the name.
There is a store near the nearby Mantapa. There is a big Pillaiyar there. Hiding behind
Him, a group is preparing coffee. I heard it is very good. Today, you go there and taste
that coffee.He left the place. The weight in my heart disappeared and became light
like a cotton swab.

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

I went behind the Pillaiyar statue and looked. Mayavaram Visu (now Rameswaram Visu)
along with a group was preparing coffee.
I understand that coffee would be excellent here. Will you give me a cup ?
Visu laughed and asked, who told you?
Periava..
Oh! How did Periava come to know of it ?-----the smile faded from Visus face and
fear showed.
Do you think that anything can happen without the knowledge of Periava?
After drinking the coffee, my earlier worry came back to me. Krishnamurthy and I
discussed the matter again.
Krishnamurthy told me, Sir! Periava has been repeatedly asking you. There is some
meaning in that. Do not hesitate. Take a piece of paper and start writing. Why should
you think that YOU are going to write ? Think of Periava and then write. It will
automatically come.
Bringing along Krishnamurthy was not a waste after all. His confidence stuck on to me.
Both of us went to the manager, obtained a few white sheets of paper, and proceeded
to a peaceful place.
We entered the Adhishtana Mantapam nearby. The silent atmosphere there

was

smoothening to my mind. We prostrated before the Adhishtanam of Sri Mahadevendra

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Chapter 1 of Anbe Arule by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Baraneedharan)

Swamikal, the 65th Peetathipathi of Sri Kamakoti Peetam. I prayed to Periava, and started
writing after placing a Pillaiyar suzhi on the top.
To be continued

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