SARANAGATI SPECIAL EXTENDED EDITION

SRI RAMANASRAMAM AUGUST 2020, VOL. 14, NO. 8

D. Thiyagarajan and J.Jayaraman

SPECIAL EXTENDED EDITION IN THIS
AUGUST 2020, VOL. 14, NO.8 ISSUE

Dear All,
After calling for stories on the life of V.S. Ramanan,
we have been deluged with lovely anecdotes about
devotees’ experiences with Sundaranna over the years.
The Life of V.S. Ramanan Through the Eyes of Devotees 3
While Saranagati’s page length is usually 9-10 pages, we
were in a quandary about whether to split up these Events in Sri Ramanasramam: Guru Poornima 7
tributes over two issues. In the end, it seemed right Sri Muruganar’s Irai Pani Nittral, §6 8
to keep them together in one issue, even if it meant Events at Sri Ramanasramam: Krimi Nashini Mantra 9
overstepping page length limits. We hope no one will Events in Sri Ramanasramam: GVS’ Peacock Ashtakam 10
be inconvenienced by this. Events in Tiruvannamalai: Local Coronavirus Update 19
Giving family members time to mourn their loss,
Quote from In Days of Great Peace 19
we have asked those still wishing to share to prepare
something for the September issue. Obituary: Sri Margabandhu Sastrigal 19
For videos, photos and further news of events, go to Obituary: Sri V.S. Ramanan 20
http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org or write to us at
[email protected].
In Sri Bhagavan,
The Editorial Team

Calendar of Events Celebrated at Home (for the time being)

2nd-3rd August (Sun) Full Moon 10th October (Tues) Punarvasu

16th August (Sun) Punarvasu 17th October (Sat) Navaratri Commences
1st September (Tues) Advent 25th October (Sun) Saraswati Puja
2nd September (Weds) Full Moon 26th October (Mon) Vijayadasami
13th September (Sun) Punarvasu 31st October (Fri) Full Moon
2nd October (Fri) Full Moon 14th November (Sat) Deepavali
 the heart. I remember him daily participating in the
early morning milk offering and then standing outside
the dining room, exchanging special greetings with
each of the devotees in a light and cheerful manner
as we went in for breakfast. He would often greet
the German devotees in German since he spoke the
language having lived there.
— Marye Tonnaire

F rom 1992 for more than two decades, during

morning and evening puja at Bhagavan’s Shrine,
one could notice that Sundaram Anna, the President,
never stood prominently. He would stand behind
somebody or near the wall on the gent’s side. In 1994,
when he became the President, he told the Ashram
workers that there was no difference between him
and Muttamma the lady who cleaned the premises.
“I am sitting in the chair just to sign the papers, that’s
all”, he would often assert.
— T.V. Chandramouli, publications

The Life of V.S. Ramanan Seen S undaram moved with devotees as one of them, never
as one with authority, nor even as a first among equals.
Like his siblings and children, he had a fine intellect. He
Through the Eyes of Bhagavan’s had an engineering degree, retired as a high official in
Government with a clean record of service.
Devotees At the times when he was loath to reverse a decision,
he was most often found to be right. This was
because he had surrendered to Bhagavan subjecting
[If stories are what bind and sustain an entire civilization, his judgment to Bhagavan’s Will.
they are likewise the staple of a small spiritual community. — K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications
After Sundaranna’s demise last week at the age of 86,
family members and devotees have been reminiscing about their
experiences with our former President over the years and decades.
In the following pages we are reproducing some of the many
S undaranna was steadfast in his daily routine and
made it his principal duty to serve devotees. My wife
used to sit in the Mother’s Shrine in the late morning
vignettes and memories that devotees, friends and family members and do her parayana there. Everyday about the same
were moved to write. We are sorry not to be able to include all time Sundaranna would pass by and switch on the fan
the stories that came to us but here is a good sample. Since no for her. It was a small gesture of course but it showed a
particular order suggested itself, the following is a random sequence consistent and abiding concern for the welfare of others
of clips and glimpses into Sundaranna’s life.] which he demonstrated over and again in so many ways.
—Vishnu Sabhahit

T he memory of Sundaram Anna that stands out

the most is the warm and welcoming smile he
would bestow whenever I saw him. It went straight to I t is not surprising that I regard my father as my role
model in worldly life and in sadhana. Most daughters

page 3
would. What touched me as I received messages of
solace and commiseration from devotees, college
friends and ex-colleagues of Appa’s, my high school
friends and high school friends of my brothers, was
that Appa had played a significant role in their lives as
well. What tribute can one pay to a father who shaped
her, mentored her, and continues to do so?
Since Appa would shy away from anything
complimentary, I will say something briefly about one
of Appa’s role models.
Sri Alagappa Chettiar: Appa used to quote Alagappa
Chettiar who is the founder of the engineering college
that Appa and Mani chitappa attended, as an epitome
of generosity, He would often say that Sri Alagappa
Chettiar used to say that “It is well and fine to give
away money when one has it, but better to borrow and
donate when one does not”.
— Aruna Ramanan

B hagavan’s Grace compelled me to join the Ashram

as a full-time sadhak in 2009 and I took voluntary
retirement from the bank. Well before that in one of Bhagavan with Sambasiva Rao seated at his far left, 1930s

my visits, Anna had told me smilingly, “If you have any

plans for early retirement, you have to report to me the Young Sundaram with Bhagavan on the Hill, ca. 1945
next day”. Such was the intuitive skill he possessed in
identifying the earnest seeker. Holding the office of the around, something which I deny categorically…what
President had a special meaning for him. He always said me?...bossy? unimaginable!
only Bhagavan is the President of the Ashram and that How old memories come back as time goes by.
he was meant to be a servant of visiting devotees, to Once many years later in our adulthood, we fell out
wash their feet, to give them the opportunity to plunge over something…after all this time I cannot even
in sadhana during their visit and to sign papers for remember what it was...but we were both quite upset.
smooth administration. He was sincere in this statement Sundaram rang me up about it and I said, “Sundaram,
and kept this vocation to the end. please don’t shout at me.” He replied, “You are my
— Sivadas Krishnan, administration
sister. If I can’t shout at you, then who can I shout at?”
I started to laugh, and he won his point.
[The following testimony is from someone who first met I will always remember him as my playmate from
Sundaram in 1941 when she came with her parents and days gone by. He was a good friend then and remained
siblings to live in Tiruvannamalai. Known for her bold straight- so even when we had all grown up.
— Kitty Osborne
forward manner as well as an abiding humour and wit, she was
sized up by Sundaram already when the two, about the same
age, met that year and became life-long friends:]
I have known my father-in-law since 1986 and am
blessed to have known him. I have always admired

I recall a very earnest young boy who once told me

that he assumed I must be the oldest of us children
because I was so bossy! Apparently I used to boss him
his love and devotion to both his immediate family
as well as his extended Ramana family of devotees
of Sri Bhagavan. He was always present to greet and

page 4
 we got ready to leave, Sundaranna said, “You must
take food packets with you so that you won’t have
to eat on the roadside”. He then walked us up to the
kitchen where he gave instructions to the cook to
prepare packets of iddlies for the trip.
This happened at various times such as at the time
of the Arunachaleswarar/Arakandanallur Temple
Kumbhabhishekam Souvenirs or whenever there
was urgent work in Chennai. Sundaranna was always
like this with us, going the extra mile. He looked after
our every need, very often at his own expense in terms
of time, energy and effort.
— D. Thiyagarajan, publications

A fter I settled in Tiruvannamalai in the year 2000, I

was spending a lot of time at the Ashram. Just after
a month or two, the Ashram President Sundaranna came
to me while I was sitting in meditation in the Samadhi
Hall. He told me, “Swami, you can have prasad at the
Ashram every day in the morning or evening. You don’t
President V.S. Ramanan at his desk in the late 1990s
have to ask any one’s permission. You can just come in.”
help devotees who visited Ramanasramam. He always I was overwhelmed. Every afternoon, I was having
had a beautiful smile and kind words for anyone who prasad at Sri Yogi Ramasuratkumar’s Ashram along
had a question or doubt. He was also very loving and with other sadhus but needed a meal at night. However,
attentive to his immediate family and I immediately the timing was an issue. I wanted to meditate until 9
felt that I was part of this family. I am also thankful pm but the Ashram’s evening prasad was at 7.30 pm.
to him for introducing me to Bhagavan. So, I did not go for the meal. The President again
The other quality of his that I admire and try to enquired through a devotee. I conveyed my issue. I
emulate was his scrupulous honesty. He would not was then told, prasad will be kept in an Ashram food
bend the rules for anyone including his family. To carrier and I can collect it at 9 pm. Could I ask for
him, everyone was equal, regardless whether they were more? I felt as if Bhagavan himself invited me. It
family or not. This quality is what made him the ideal was an experience of incredible blessing. Bhagavan
President of Ramanasramam. Bhagavan put him in this acted through the kindness of Sundaranna. I took
place to maintain the sanctity of Ramanasramam. advantage of this rare privilege he had so graciously
— Dr. Ramkumar Sankaran offered me for the following five years.
— Madhurananda

J ust after Swami Ramanananda (Venkatoo) passed

away in December 2007 immediately after Jayanti,
we were asked to do a souvenir. We had only thirteen I n earlier years, very sweetly, Sundaram Anna would
sometimes call me ‘Saradamma’ and sometimes
days to get it prepared and printed for the 13th day ‘Saradamba’ as Ganesan Anna had once christened me.
puja, so the window was tight. In order not to lose There were some personal moments that Anna shared
time by sending material by courier, we planned to with me and some deep spiritual insights as well. He
deliver the disc to the printer in person. This meant had great love for his family, for his wife, whom we call
we had to set off by Ashram car around 5 am. As Manni, and for the children. He once told me:

page 5
 Before meeting Susila and getting married I had first been taken to been clear whether or not his own father would be
‘see’ another ‘girl’ as the custom is called in Tamil. As you know, in in favour of the venture, and whether or not, based
those days, eligible bachelors were taken to meet thei prospective bride- on his father’s seniority, based on the fact that he had
to-be. A large retinue from the boy’s house would go to the girl’s place. been the former President, he might try and influence
The girl would be ‘shown’ to us for a few minutes when she came out the decision. But on the bhoomi puja day, his father
and placed some eats before us and prostrated to the elders.
arrived and said, “You are the Ashram President now.
What can one discern about a girl in that amount of time? But I
‘rejected’ that first proposal and said I didn’t want to marry that girl. I
I have to respect your decision, so here I am”.
don’t know why I did so. I am sure there was nothing wrong with her or It was a small gesture, but it showed that Venkatoo, by
dislikeable about her, but somehow at that moment I did not feel that then Sw. Ramanananda, would not try and insert himself
I liked her. However, after saying ‘no’ I was filled with great remorse. in the administrative decision-making process but would
I thought my action had been cruel and would have caused hurt and uphold and honour the office his son now held.
suffering to that young girl. Then and there I made up my mind that no — T.V. Chandramouli, publications
matter who the next girl I was taken to see, no matter how she looked
or how she behaved, I would say yes. I would agree to marry her.
At this point in the narration, Anna stopped and said
with an affectionate smile, looking at Susila Manni who
B esides his mother tongue Tamil, Sundaram Anna was
fond of English. He always spoke ‘English-English’
with matching diction. He enjoyed ‘Know Your English’
was somewhere across the room, ‘The next girl I was in The Hindu and liked to share the humour in them with
shown was Sushila’. others. He would even phone the writer Sri Upendran
Through this incident Anna showed me how soft- and compliment him if a particular piece was outstanding.
hearted he was, that he would melt easily at the thought He was proficient in German as well, which was quite
of someone’s sorrow and at the same time how useful with some of our correspondence and visitors.
surrendered he was as well. He had chosen for himself He had excellent handwriting and never tired
the path of total acceptance and Bhagavan brought him of making copies of Sanskrit verses in his neat
a gem of a wife who would not only be deeply devoted handwriting and presenting them to others. He could
to him but also absolutely surrendered to Bhagavan and also recite Sanskrit works of Bhagavan ‘Sat Darshan’
to the service of his devotees. and ‘Ramana Gita’ from memory, besides ‘Upadesa
— Dr. Sarada, editor of The Ramana Way Saram’, which he also encouraged others to do.
— V. Subramanian

I n 1998, only a few years after Sundaranna had been

installed as the new Ashram President, the dining
hall expansion became necessary. There was concern I knew him as a quiet dynamo, shy of the camera.
He was focused on Arunachala Ramana, 24x7.
that some might oppose the project. It had not even In his early years as the President, he would go on

page 6
 Giripradakshina every single day in the wee hours requests, but to reply in a gentle way. At the same time,
of the morning. This was truly awe inspiring. In the he would not let us off the hook when a complaint was
evenings, every single day, we could see him sitting at made against us. He would readily share the complaint
Parayanam, chanting the sacred works of Bhagavan. with us, saying, “You have a compliment message.”
During lunch time, we would see him serving ‘ghee’ to One time, he made a decision which the rest of the
one and all in the dining hall. Externally he seemed like office staff were quietly not in favour of. When he
a rock of Arunachala. But one could sense the furnace came to know that we differed from his view, he asked
of Bhagavan burning inside him. He was a man of few “Why didn’t you inform me?”. We said we could not
words, the words being, ‘Bhagavan Sri Ramana’. go against his decision. He said, “Why should you not
— G. Kameshwar correct me if I’m wrong?” Such was his humility.

T
— Kannan Sundaresan, office staff
he first time I saw Sundaram Anna was from a
distance at a Chennai Ramana Kendra function
around 1998. I was attracted by his charismatic smile
and humility. Even though I regularly visited the
I have had contact with Sri Ramanasramam for the
past eighty years. I came to the Ashram in 1940 with
my father, mother and two younger sisters. I was about
Ashram during full moons from 1997 to 2009, I was 15 years old then. As Sri V.S. Ramanan was younger to
shy to speak to anyone. In 2004, when I was introduced me, he always politely called me ‘Akka’.
by a fellow devotee from Salem, Sundaram Anna gently After being installed as President, he proved himself
caressed my head as though I had been known to him an able administrator, but with gentle manners. He was
for a long time. In 2010 introduced a second time, soft-spoken, humble, considerate and helpful to fellow
this time by Sri. T.V. Chandramouli, Sundaram Anna devotees. Many visitors did not know that he was the
provided me with the golden opportunity to serve in President of the Ashram until they saw him sitting in
the Ashram and I began straightaway. his chair and attending his office work. He was loved
What I found very soon after beginning my service in and respected by one and all from the workers to
the Ashram office is that Sundaram Anna never acted distinguished visitors from all over India and abroad.
as one above others but was down to earth in dealing Though his physical presence is no longer there in
with staff and devotees. In dealing with us, he was the Ashram now, he will always be remembered as an
fatherly and familiar with us. He would share articles efficient and faithful head of the Ashram, an ardent
with us or tell jokes even though we were nowhere near devotee of Bhagavan and a lovable human being.
to him in stature. — Mahalakshmi Suryanandam
He was fond of Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai’s works
and would advise us to memorize them. He regularly
advised me not to be blunt in answering devotees’ T he first time I met Sundaram Anna was in 1984. I
had come to the Ashram on a visit with my son,

Events in Sri Ramanasramam: Guru Poornima

O n 5th July, a handful of devotees

gathered in Bhagavan’s Shrine for Guru
Purnima. The day is devoted to recognising
and honouring spiritual teachers and the Guru
principle is said to be 1000 times more potent
on this day than on any other. This Sanskrit
word comes from gu which means ‘darkness’
and ru, which means ‘remover’, thus the guru is the one who leads us out of darkness. —

page 7
and Sundaram had not yet come there to settle. At that
time the Ashram was hosting the marriage of Sundaram
Anna’s niece, his sister Azhagammal’s elder daughter. It
A nother of Appa’s role models was Cow Lakshmi.
Amongst devotees of Bhagavan, Appa used to
talk about her the most. He would choke up when
was quite an occasion. In the middle of all the festivities narrating Bhagavan’s explanation for not staying with
my son, who was twelve years old then and new to Lakshmi until she breathed her last while he stayed
India, started to feel a bit queasy in the stomach. When until the end with his mother, Alagammal. “Lakshmi
Sundaram Anna came to learn of it, he immediately only knew Bhagavan”.
sought us out and after asking a few questions, straight — Aruna Ramanan
away sent someone to fetch some bread. He encouraged
my son to take the bread and stayed close to us until he
knew that the boy was feeling better. O nce in the years after the Ashram had become
very busy with growing crowds, those of us
on staff felt the pinch of the demands made on us,
— Marye Tonnaire
especially during the high season. Sometimes I would

I n July 2008, I was cutting vegetables in the Ashram

kitchen. Someone from the office came and told me,
“The president is calling you. Come quickly.” “What! Did
come to my room completely exhausted from the day
of service. Following one such night after sleeping
late, I inquired where Sundaranna was that morning
I do something wrong?” I slowly prepared myself and and was told that he had left at 3 am to go to a wedding
made my way to the office. When Sundaranna saw me, he in Chennai. I felt ashamed how I had complained to
said with a big smiling face, “Come, come”. He said, “We myself about the demands made on my time, whereas
just received a new publication. This is for you.” He gave Sundaranna would do as much, or more service than
me a copy. I was surprised. Why for me first? I opened the rest of us and on top of it all, go and attend
the cover and saw his handwriting. It read, “Praying for weddings, grihapravesams, bhoomi pujas, inaugurations
Sri Bhagavan’s blessings — V.S. Ramanan, 15-7-08”. and functions for devotees, not only locally but in
You know, July 15th is my birthday. So I was delighted. distant places as far away as Bangalore, Hyderabad,
I immediately prostrated, showing my gratitude. I hadn’t Bombay and Delhi. He continued this even beyond
even remembered that it was my birthday. How did he the years when his health had begun to fail. I knew
know? It was a miracle to me. He looked at me with a how demanding such activities were for him, but he
gracious smile as tears welled up in my eyes. just took it as his duty and did it unrelentingly.
— Shunya Sakiyama, kitchen — Michael Highburger, publications

Sri Muruganar’s Irai Pani Nittral, §6

   I cried: ‘Mighty Master of Works,
   Creating, preserving, destroying,
   Tell me the means of salvation!’
   Ramana, wise and virtuous, said:
()   ‘Watching word and thought
   Walk as you are guided
   By the grace of the Lord who dwells
   In the lotus of your Heart’.

page
page 810
M y father-in-law was not only an affectionate
father figure to me but to others who visited
the Ashram. I loved his beatific smile, his simplicity
Receiving the invitation, Sundaranna gave them
both a most genial smile. With that twinkle in his eyes
that conveys so much warmth and a benevolent smile,
and his always being “in the moment”. What I learnt he asked them, “Who is the luckier of the two?”
from him was complete unquestioning Guru Bhakti. The expression on his face unmistakably implied that
He used to say that he never asked Bhagavan for the question had no answer. This rhetorical question
anything but if something was bothering him, he was his hearty blessing of the young ones, who are
would go to the Shrine and ponder the matter and the today parents of two sons, aged 15 and 11.
matter would be resolved in due course. What a uniquely affable manner of blessing!
Several devotees have told me that in their first few — P. Ramasamy, archives

H
visits to the Ashram, they never knew he was the
is own surrender to Bhagavan was deep and
President; they thought he was just another devotee.
his faith unshakeable. He told me, ‘Saradamma,
He believed that one comes to the Ashram to be with
you know, when I was in service I did not really have
Bhagavan and soak in the atmosphere and that one
any clear concept about money’. And he smilingly
should not get distracted by other things; so he did
added, ‘I do not think even now I have any thought or
not expect praise or even acknowledgement.
knowledge about money’. He continued:
For me, he will always be the true devotee who did
his work joyously with absolute sincerity, integrity and In those days I did not have the faintest idea as to what it takes
to run a household or to celebrate a major event in the family. I
humility, knowing full well that it is Bhagavan and only
would simply give my entire salary to Susila and she would run
Bhagavan who makes things happen. the household month by month and probably set aside the money
— Dr. Nitya Ramanan required for our travel and other needs as well. For her part, she

B
never asked for anything more than what I gave her. When Anand
ased in Puducherry, for successive generations our was to get married, Susila told me that we would need forty thousand
family has been coming to Bhagavan ever since rupees towards expenses for the wedding. I was flabbergasted. I had
my dad’s middle years in the 1940s. When my second no savings and no source from which I could raise that kind of
daughter’s wedding came up in 2000, I came as usual money. I left it to Bhagavan to show me the way. The very next day
to submit the first invitation card at Bhagavan’s shrine. while I was at work I was asked to prepare to leave in the next
The soon-to-be bride and groom accompanied me. couple of days on an overseas assignment. When I returned after the
We headed for the President’s office and offered an assignment I was paid a special remuneration of forty one thousand
invitation card to Sri V.S. Ramanan. I introduced my rupees and some change after deducting taxes. Can you believe this?
soon-to-be son-in-law to him. (My daughter needed Bhagavan gave me the exact amount that Susila had needed from
me for the event. I brought home the money and handed it over to
no introduction.)

Events at Sri Ramanasramam: Krimi Nashini Mantra

D aily recitation of the Krimi Nashini mantra

from the Taittriya Aranyaka of the Krishna
Yajur Veda started on 9th July. Krimi Nashini
mantra is designed to destroy (nasha means to
‘destroy’) germs (krimi) and viruses. Ashram Veda
Patasala teacher, Senthilnatha Ghanapatigal is
committed to maintaining the recitation for the
duration of the pandemic. —

page 9
 Susila for the marriage expenses. Right then I knew that Bhagavan the Indian roads, I might never see you again.” Then
takes complete care of all our needs. we’d laugh, and I’d promise to be safe and return in a
— Dr. Sarada, editor of The Ramana Way few weeks, and he’d heartily wave me off.

I
— John Maynard, archives
n the old days, Sundaram Anna walked very fast on
his pradakshinas and seemed to be flying, his steps
were so light. He was said to have once been clocked at
just two hours and fifteen minutes for a hill-rounding.
T here were occasions when I would consult with
Sundaranna about an Ashram project and he
would make a decision that I was sure was the wrong
Sometimes in those days, when there was practically decision. He was the President, so what could I say?
no traffic on the main road, devotees would take walks But here’s the thing, each time this happened, I would
in the evening in front of the Ashram, and I marveled later discover that he had made the right decision
when I would see Sundaram Anna and Susila Manni after all. I marvelled over this because these decisions,
come whizzing by me. as best I could tell, were not borne of the intellect or
— Marye Tonnaire
rationality. How was he doing it? I never asked him,

B efore setting forth on every motorcycle pilgrimage

I’d go to see Sundaram for his blessing; he’d
always say, “Oh, you know, I don’t like you going on
but I began to suspect that he simply made some, if
not all, of his decisions based on intuition. He simply
let what came to mind in the moment be the final
these trips. Please be safe, it’s dangerous out there on word, trusting that it was coming from Bhagavan.

Events in Sri Ramanasramam: Setting the Peacock Ashtakam to Music

A white peacock presented by the Maharani of Baroda,

became the darling of Bhagavan. He had a cage just
beside his couch and was watched by it day and night. It
would get up on Bhagavan’s book-rack and gently peck
at the books with his beak. The peacock would daily visit
the work of temple-construction that was then going on
in the Ashram and would also enter the dining hall and
walk between the rows of people seated at meals, and so
he earned from Bhagavan the title Assistant Sarvadhikari.
Bhagavan said that some people believed that the white
peacock was the reincarnation of Madhavaswami and ever
afterwards, Bhagavan used to address him as ‘Madhava’.
Balachadra Ramanan set GVS’ Ashtakam in the peacock metre to music On June 20, 1947, G.V. Subburamayya composed eight Telugu
and performed it in Bhagavan’s Sannidhi on 4th July verses on the white peacock in Mayura Vrittam (peacock-
metre) and presented them to Bhagavan in the Jubilee pandal. Bhagavan appeared greatly pleased with them and, handing them
to Lalita Venkataraman, suggested that she sing them with her vina. Within half an hour she brought her vina and got ready to
sing. Just then the white peacock was absent. Bhagavan said, “But the hero must be present to hear his praises sung! Where are
you, Madhava? Come.” Lo! At once the white peacock jumped down from the roof of the pandal; and while Lalita sang, he
spread out his tail feather and danced as Bhagavan sat and watched him with beaming eyes. When the singing concluded, the
peacock walked to the vina and pecked at its strings with his beak. Thereupon Bhagavan told the singer, “Madhava wants you
to repeat the song.” So she sang once more and the peacock danced again. It was a sight for the gods. —

page 10
 I reflected at length on his gift, if we might call it that, We went for a movie in Baroda to a theatre in our colony, Sushila,
and tried to imitate him but found that such intuitive trust I and Ravi who was a child of around five. In those days it was
is not something one can acquire all at once by a force common in Hindi and Tamil movies in the song sequence for the hero
of will. Rather, it would seem to come about over long to sweep the heroine off her feet and carry her in his arms to swirl her
years and decades, perhaps by virtue of steady prayer and around. When such a sequence in the movie came, Ravi exclaimed
loudly, ‘Hai! Appa panra maadri!’ ‘Just as Appa does’. What he
devotion to Bhagavan. And perhaps too, by an abiding
meant was that I would lift him up and swirl him around in that
commitment to living by Ramana standards as much way as soon as I returned from work. But to our friends in the colony
as one is able, a sort of ongoing ‘sadhana of daily life’, who were watching the movie with us, it probably seemed as if I
which would express itself in how one treats others, how would romance with Susila in like fashion. Surely an embarrassing
one speaks to and about others, and so forth. moment for Susila and me.
Witnessing again and again Sundaranna’s ‘gift’ at So saying, Anna laughed heartily.
work in the practical sphere of Ashram projects, I — Dr. Sarada, editor of The Ramana Way
came to trust his intuition as much as he did.
— Michael Highburger, publications
A nother of my father’s great influences was Mahatma
Gandhi. Gandhiji’s commitment to truth made

W henever I would walk into his office he would

immediately smile and give me his full attention.
Sometimes he would share a letter from a devotee or
Appa fall in love with the concept that what one thinks,
says and does should to be in total alignment. Following
Gandhiji’s lead, he constantly watched whether he was
show me a publication he thought I should read. He wavering from truth. Honesty when practiced truly
was very happy that I took interest in the Sanskrit works, keeps one humble as one can see how insignificant
and in singing Tamil songs. One day he personally gave one is in the larger scheme of things. One has to be
me two, beautiful, restored photos of Bhagavan; the courageous to practice truth for everything you say or
famous one of Bhagavan as a youth and another of do may be anything but popular or pleasant. Honesty
Bhagavan sitting outside of Skandasramam which is and humility also mean that ideas can be revised, and
less well known. He used to marvel at how things would that revising them is not diluting leadership, but coming
always seem to get accomplished in the Ashram just as closer to it. I am truly thankful to my father in bearing
they should, and he would sometimes cite examples. witness to this and for his role models in shaping my life.
— Marye Tonnaire — Aruna Ramanan

T here were times of fun too that we shared. Some

sweet little memories about the family, he would
recount how as a baby, Aruna, when she first became
I n 2011, after a book I had translated about Gandhi
was released in the Ashram by Gandhi’s grandson,
Sri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Sundaranna suggested it
familiar with words would become very alert every time be made available for sale in the Ashram bookstall. I
the refrain of Aksharamanamalai was sung because the lightly countered, “Sundaranna, there is not a single
word ‘Aruna’ would come again and again in it. reference to Bhagavan in this book.” He said, “So
While talking of Ravi his heart would swell with what. It is a book about Gandhi translated by you.
fatherly pride. He once said, ‘Ravi seemed to be And Bhagavan loved Gandhi.” All 60 copies sold.
an average student in his school days, probably in — K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications
relation to Anand who was absolutely brilliant. But
the moment Ravi finished his MBA he came into his
own and in his job his contributions were supremely
valued. His inputs were unique and literally had a
T here are moments when I am overcome with
sadness that I cannot express my love for my
grandfather in person, but I try to remember all of the
stroke of genius.’ Then he remembered a sweet memories we shared that unequivocally demonstrated
incident about Ravi. He said with a joyous smile: our bond. Thatha was one of the few people I

page 11
felt comfortable asking philosophical or religious
questions, like “Why is Vishnu’s skin blue”? He
allowed me to question, and never shied away from
these deeper discussions. Moreover, I will always be
filled with a feeling of warmth when I think of his
disarming smile, his firm and loving hugs, and the
way he peddled chocolates and Starbursts to me as if
it was our little secret. I will miss his presence in my
life but am thankful to have shared these moments
with someone so extraordinary.
— Swaroopa Ramkumar

H e enjoyed spending time with his grandkids as

did they. He also enjoyed any food that was
sweet! He also loved the outdoors and loved to go
President V.S. Ramanan with his grand-niece, Sandhya
for walks admiring nature. He also loved animals and

E
treated them as family. Our dog, Leela, who used to verybody called Sundaramji ‘good’ because
sleep in our bedroom, preferred to sleep in our guest natural goodness was his most striking character
bedroom with him when he visited us in the US. This trait. He knew that all human beings, including
was surprising as Leela was very particular where she himself, were fallible. He thus let Bhagavan, the
slept! I always admired his love for life. He lived life infallible One, run the Ashram while Sundaranna was
according to Ramana’s teaching as if it were a play keen to merely be his instrument. To him, Bhagavan
and he was an actor and he played the part fully. was not just a granduncle whom he knew as a youth
— Dr. Ramkumar Sankaran and whose affection he had received but a Guru who

O
is saakshaat Parabrahma. Nothing short of undivided
nce about 20 years back I got to see
devotion to him would do for Sundaramji.
Sundaranna’s leadership skills at work. When
Still waters run deep. Sundaramji’s bhakti rarely took
he got wind that there was some impropriety in the
a verbal form. It was seen in every moment of his
bookstall management, he astutely called two people
life. He never belittled other masters but, like Swami
working in the bookstall and asked them to bring
Niranjanananda, Mastan Saheb, Muruganar Swami
their bank books to the office. Sundaranna began to
and others, he knew only Bhagavan.
peruse the bank records and inquired of regular large
— K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications
deposits made to their accounts. When he asked
them the source of the large deposits, the two were
unable to give a convincing account and the whole
thing came to light. They had been pilfering funds
S undaranna used to lovingly reminisce that his
mother was always goading him to read ‘Noothi
ettu’, her way of referring to Nool Therattu—“The
from the bookstall accounts and moving them to
Collected Works of Sri Ramana Maharshi”. His love
their own personal accounts.
of the Divine Tongue, namely, Sanskrit, which he
— Shrinivasa Murthi, accommodations
studied as a student, endured and he would religiously

E ver smiling, Thatha is the one all we kids

remember. We used to love our summer holiday
morning ritual of saying good morning to him in the
go through the Ramana Gita. He undertook to teach
newly joined priests certain Sanskrit slokas on
Bhagavan. Every devotee was dear to him and he was
office before running off to the shrine. keen that they be taken care of.
— Sandhya — ASK and Aparna

page 12
 at 3 am. He came to the Ashram by 5 am and would
routinely sit alone in Bhagavan’s Shrine and prayerfully
read six chapters of the Ramana Gita. After that, he
would sit in the President’s room and copy out verses
of Bhagavan in Sanskrit or Tamil until about 6.45 am
at which time he would go back to the Shrine for the
chanting of the Forty Verses in Praise of Bhagavan. This
was followed by milk puja and by greeting devotees
for breakfast. He was very punctual and never missed
Bhagavan’s morning and evening pujas. He was also
keen to chant Upadesa Saram following the evening
Vedaparayana. He would do his office work with
diligence but when parayana or puja time came, he
would rush to the hall. Any other spare moment was
devoted to reading Bhagavan’s books.
—Sabhahit Family

G anesan Anna would affectionately tease Sundaram

Anna for his simplicity. Ganesan once said:
Let me tell you Saradamba, when we were children our aunts and
grandmothers used to mix the rice and rasam or rice and curd on
a plate and sit with us and feed us with their own hands telling us
stories. Sundaram would often object saying that the quantity of rice
on the plate was too much. Then the aunt would ask, ‘Which part is
too much? This part?’ and she would show some part segregating it
from the rest of the mixed rice. ‘Yes’, he would say. Then she would
say, ‘Let us do one thing. You finish this extra part first and then you

W hen he heard ‘Upadesa Saram’ being chanted in

the old hall, he would drop everything and run
there, to be in the presence of Bhagavan and prostrate
can eat what is just right for you.’ And Sundaram would innocently
be convinced about this argument and accept it. He was very trusting
and would surrender to those he loved.
to Him, when they chanted ‘Na karmana’ — Dr. Sarada, editor of The Ramana Way

S
— G. Kameshwar
undaranna was gentle to the core and never saw

W hen I asked him in one of my walks if he ever

felt proud being the President of a world-
renowned spiritual organisation, he quipped that
anything small in others. Simple in attire and
outlook, he became a child when he met and interacted
with children. Very often, he used to innocently
Bhagavan is the President of the Ashram and he is recall events of the past during the blessed days of
only a tool to perform administrative actions, so Sri Bhagavan’s physical presence. In those days, the
where is the question of feeling proud? road between the Temple and the Ashram was lined
— Sivadas Krishnan, administration with lots of trees and was quite deserted. Afraid of
lurking ghosts he walked that stretch with eyes closed

W e were always so inspired by Sundaranna because

of his one-pointed devotion to Bhagavan. He
used to follow Bhagavan’s recommendation as concerns
and would often run through the entire distance while
returning from school. Daily he would go straight to
the Old Hall and mechanically prostrate before the
Brahma Muhurtha and would go for his morning walk sofa of Bhagavan and then rush out to play. One time

page 13
when he performed this routine, he was surprised by
the outburst of sudden laughter in the Hall. He was
amazed to hear laughter in the august presence of
W hen he had something to convey, it was always
in a straightforward manner. He never had the
habit of beating around the bush. He could make
Bhagavan. But when he looked up, he saw that the sofa quick intuitive decisions born out of total surrender to
was empty and Bhagavan was not in the Hall at all. Bhagavan. The various building projects undertaken
— ASK and Aparna and the purchases of land of large extents in his
tenure as President bear testimony to this.

O ne morning, by sheer happenstance as is common

in Ramanasramam, Sundar Anna and I found
— Sivadas Krishnan, administration

ourselves momentarily at the back entrance to the

kitchen, soon after breakfast. It was another one of
those Bhagavan instances that pop up seemingly out
I t was the year 2003. After dinner, I went to my
desk in the Ashram office to pick up my bag and
go to my room. Just then the phone rang. I answered
of nowhere. A memory was triggered in Sundar Anna’s it and a woman spoke in an excited voice saying that
mind, fresh as the day it happened to him, and his face she was calling from somewhere in Tamil Nadu. She
was alight as he recounted it to me. He pointed to the said, “Someone here has gone crazy and is shouting
large mortars embedded into the floor of the kitchen’s and screaming like a possessed woman. May we
eastern veranda and said to me: bring her to your Ashram and leave her with you?”
“You know, Bhagavan used to sit there, grinding all I hastened to respond saying that we do not admit
the leftover bits and pieces cast aside by the cooks people in such a condition in the Ashram. When we
while preparing the food. That morning Bhagavan hung up. Sundaranna who was sitting there the whole
had just finished making his chutney and we all eagerly time, asked what had happened. When I told him, he
lined up to receive our share. I was towards the front laughed and said, “There are plenty of such people
of the queue as Bhagavan himself gave a spoonful here. One more case will hardly matter.”
equally to each person. When my turn came, he put We both laughed, switched off the lights and went
a small amount in the palm of my hand. It was so home.
delicious! I wanted more, so I promptly re-joined the — Sivakumar, office staff
back of the queue. When I stood before Bhagavan
again, he chided me kindly, as he waved me aside:
‘Haven’t you had your share already?’” S undaranna was one of the few beings I personally
knew who lived with and touched Bhagavan.
When one day I had the opportunity to touch
— Dev Gogoi
Sundaranna’s feet, it was for me as though I were

A nother memory in a lighter vein concerned a

foreign devotee, a non-native English speaker,
who was starting to go a little mad after some time. I
touching Bhagavan’s feet. At that moment tears welled
up in my eyes.
— Filomela
remember how patient Sundaram Anna was with her.
One afternoon this lady stood in the samadhi hall, right
up front with her back to Bhagavan’s shrine and started S undaranna was least bothered about money and
was very generous when the need arose. Once
after my father was operated on in Coimbatore,
to deliver a speech. I was standing just outside the front
entrance to the hall wondering whether I should do Sundaranna wanted to give us a large sum of money to
something to stop her. Sundaram Anna came by just at help fund the surgery. But I felt bad that Sundaranna
that moment, stopped for a while to look at the lady, and should have to give us money when my father had
said to me, “She speaks very good English, doesn’t she?” his retirement money and his small savings. So, when
Then he just walked away. I had my instructions. It was I refused the offer that day in the Ashram office,
evident that I was just to let her be. Sundaranna felt hurt and reacted sharply. I began
— Marye Tonnaire to weep in his presence. Ganapati Raman was there

page 14
 W hen I was at Uttarkashi in 1996-2005,
Sundaramji once wrote to me in anguish that
an article had recently appeared in The Mountain Path,
laughing at people who had ekabhakti for Ramana,
who wanted Only Ramana. That was the title of that
piece of writing. I wrote back saying that I had read
that article and I too wanted Only Ramana because
only Ramana was teaching me to see only Ramana
in everything. However, ekabhakti is not so easy.
Bhagavan himself said total surrender is not easy. I
may say Bhagavan is the ultimate Guru but I am yet
far from the ideal of ekabhakti. Sundaramji was much
closer to it.
— K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications

O nce in 2006, I brought the President the final

draft of the first edition of Parayana: The Poetic
Works of Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, including the
production cost estimates sent by T.V. Venkataraman
and consoled me, saying, “Don’t weep, just accept and the Ashram printer. With the transliteration and
Bhagavan’s prasad.” English translation plus the appendix that included
A couple of days later, Sundaranna came to the other Ashram songs, hymns and chants, the book
house to see my father and apologised profusely for came to about 300 pages. Since it was intended as
getting upset. He showed me such fatherly affection, a daily chanting book, the President agreed that it
how could any hurt feelings remain? He was like a should not be too bulky as it would likely be carried
loving father to me. regularly by devotees. At the same time, it needed
—Sri Lakshmi Sabhahit to be durable since it would be used often. So we

O
decided to publish it on lightweight offset paper, i.e.
nce when I informed the President that I would
a thin grade of paper that contains cotton and linen
be leaving the next morning to attend the
fibres to give it strength. Of course this special paper
wedding of a devotee in Chennai, he asked, “How are
is more costly. Sundaranna was eager that the Ashram
you getting there?” When I said I would be travelling
should bear any extra cost. When I told him the total
by bus, he said, “No, no, we will also be attending
production cost per book was Rs 85, I thought he
the wedding. You can come with us. Be at my house
might suggest a sales price of, say, Rs 120. But no, he
tomorrow at 4 am. We have room in the car.”
said, “Let us set it at Rs 80”. I protested, “Sundaranna,
The following morning, I arrived at the President’s
we will lose money with every book sold”. He replied
compound and was prepared to wait outside, but
confidently, “A greater sin would be to earn a profit
he insisted that I come in and have coffee before
from Bhagavan’s written works.”
departing. As it was being served, he reached for the
When put like that, the beauty of his position
sugar and asked if I wanted one or two teaspoons. He
came into clearer focus. For Sundaranna, publishing
then added the sugar, stirred the coffee and handed
Bhagavan’s works had nothing to do with earning
it to me. I felt humbled and mused to myself, where
revenue for the Ashram but rather making Bhagavan’s
in all of India would an employer, serve his employee
teachings available to devotees.
like a waiter?
— D. Thiyagarajan, publications — Michael Highburger, publications

page 15
O nce when Susila Manni had expressed an interest
in going on pilgrimage to Gokarna, Sundaranna
inquired about how to get there and where to stay. We
naturally wanted to be there to receive them and so
went ahead of them and prepared everything. We were
blessed to have them both with us in our native place.
As we walked down our Car Street, he noticed the Vedic
recitation that went on there on a daily basis. Later when
back in Tiruvannamalai, he remarked to a devotee, “The
Sabhahits hail from a Vedic realm where everyone is a
pundit. If you close your eyes and throw a stone in any
direction, it is bound to land on someone reciting Veda.”
—Sabhahit Family

W hen requesting help in identifying old devotees

appearing in archival photos, Sundaram would
always have a tale ready, about the person or people in
the photos, talking about what Bhagavan said, or did.
It was timeless when he spoke on such things.
— John Maynard, archives

D uring the 1995 Ashram Kumbhabhishekam,

because of lack of space, visiting devotees were
accommodated at lodges in town. One devotee who
firm, never swerving from his principles. He never cared
for praise. Once when I pointed out a minor foible of
was put up in town was upset as he felt that he deserved his, he graciously said that he would correct himself. It is
priority in getting an Ashram room. He filed a written a trait rarely found even among great spiritual aspirants.
complaint with the President stating that the servant — K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications
at the Ashram accommodation table was collecting
bribes for room allotments, and that he himself was
eyewitness to it. The President came to the table of that
very servant, gave him the letter and told him, “See how
W hen I first became editor of the Mountain Path,
there was some doubt as to whether I was
capable of the job. One evening just before Tamil
much appreciation there is for your services here!” Parayana, when everyone was seated in front of
— T.V. Chandramouli, publications Bhagavan’s Samadhi waiting for the starting time at
6.30pm, I was standing near the stone railings round the

B hagavan’s Ashram is the freest place I know and

Sundaramji saw to it that it remained so. If his father
whom he succeeded as President often said “Bhagavan
Samadhi where the bell hangs for the pujas. Sundaram
got up from his place for the chanting and walked over
to where I was standing. For the next three minutes or
is always sixty feet around me,” Sundaram seemed to so we engaged in a general conversation about nothing
say, “Only Bhagavan is there.” Both followed Bhagavan’s in particular. He then walked back to his place and the
upadesa to the hilt, not to aspire for guruhood in which Parayana began. Everyone in the hall was aware of
case people would expect much from you, and you what happened and its significance. This was typical of
would soon enough have to playact. Sundaram was Sundaram who did things in a low-key way. He showed
completely bereft of vainglory and braggadocio. He was his support for me without uttering a word.
unflamboyant, non-aggressive, non-assertive but politely — Chris Quilkey, The Mountain Path

page 16
A part from ensuring that I take part in Ashram
activities, Sundaram Anna gave me freedom
to establish the Ashram Archives and expand the
US for work at the end of February). I touched his
feet and looked silently into his eyes ... everything and
nothing and beyond... a depthless Ocean of Bliss.
gosala which he so loved, introducing select Indian — Dr. Carlos Lopez
breed cows like Gir, Tarparkar and Kangeyam and in
carrying out eco-friendly works and developing flora
and fauna ‘projects’. We have now in place effective
‘micro and macro water-harvesting’ arrangements,
O nce in 2004, I accommodated a not-so-well-to-
do couple who came to the Ashram for the first
time. They brought with them their son who was very
a totally organic farm, bee-keeping and gardens ill and were en route to Chennai from South India to
embellished with more than 150 varieties of trees, get him treated. They stayed for four or five days and
plants and herbs to the joy of increasing numbers of on the day they were to leave they came to the office to
butterflies and birds including the peacocks. express their gratitude and asked if they could get the
— V. Subramanian President’s blessings. I brought them into Sundaranna’s
office. In those days he was working in the inner office

W hen I think of Sri Ramanasramam’s president

Sundaram Anna my mind goes back to January
of 2011. I was coming to the end of a wonderful stay
just down the steps. I introduced the family to him,
and he invited them to sit. I observed from a distance
that they were having a long conversation and the
in the ashram that only intensified the longing to spend mother was weeping profusely. After their meeting,
more time immersed in Bhagavan and Arunachala. we all went to lunch. When Sundaranna came back
As I was saying teary goodbyes, I thanked Sundaram at 2 pm as was his usual timing then, he asked me to
Anna for his kindness and told him I was going back call the family back. They were still in Morvi Guest
to the USA. We were standing near the well outside House and were only departing in the evening. When
of the dining hall under the stars. He motioned at they came to the office, Sundaranna handed over a
the samadhi and said, “Come back soon, this is your large sum of money which he had taken out of his
home.” It was a simple and brief statement, but personal account during the lunch break. The gesture
the words moved me deeply. At that time I still had took them completely by surprise. He said this was
questions about whether Bhagavan had ‘accepted to aid them in getting proper medical attention for
me’ and a great yearning to spend more time at the their child. They were overwhelmed and expressed
Ashram. Every time I left, I was afraid that I might deep gratitude. That evening they departed for
never be able to come back. Somehow with those Chennai. I never found out what became of their son,
words I felt that a door swung open inside of me. but I pondered Sundaranna’s compassion for these
Since that visit I have come to Sri Ramanasram yearly complete strangers.
for longer and longer periods of time. Externally and — Shrinivasa Murthi, accommodations
internally, Arunachala and Sri Ramanasramam are my
home and Sundaram Anna’s words were some of the
first that invited me to believe that I could belong here.
— Katy Blackman
S undaranna’s whole life was saturated with spirituality.
He was always immersed in the teachings of Ramana.
He would always quote from Aksharamanamalai, Upadesa
Saram and Ulladu Narpadu when problems were brought

B esides an overwhelming feeling of welcoming and

inexpressible gratitude as I entered the Ashram
and prostrated to Arunchala, the very first time I saw
to him about our daily life. This has taught me to try and
live life according to the teachings of Bhagawan. He was
more immersed in silence in the last few years and did
and pranamed to Sundaranna, in December of 1999, not talk unless he was asked a question. We could see
was just like the last time I saw his mortal form (i.e. that he was in total mental peace.
asking permission to leave just before returning to the — Dr. Ramkumar Sankaran

page 17
S undaramji was unostentatious in devotion which
was very deep. He was ever conscious that
Bhagavan was total impersonality and tried to be as
impersonal as possible.
— K.V. Subrahmonyan, publications

O nce after dinner around the time of Venkatoo’s

Centenary celebration, Sundaranna and I were
standing near his father’s samadhi. He commented
that no one had lived longer in Ramanasramam
than had his father, who came in 1937 and resided
in the Ashram up until his death at the end of
2007. Of course, it was mutually acknowledged that
Kunjuswami would win this title by a little if the years
spent at Skandasramam were counted.
Sundaram then made a very interesting comment. He
said with firm conviction that Swamiji’s would be the last Moksha Deepam lamp burning on Bhagavan’s Samadhi, 21st July
interment, that is, the last samadhi in Ramanasramam.
He said that he had made this decision already at the Sri Ramanaya’. You could see that the repetition of
time of his father’s death in 2007. He made no reference Bhagavan’s name was constantly going on inside him.
to himself, but what he was saying in effect was, “I shall One day he told Susila Manni and I, “The best thing
not allow that I be given the burial rites of a saint and that could have happened to us is to have come to
be venerated down through the ages”. Bhagavan and Sri Ramanasramam.” The best way to pay
I came away from the encounter musing over the respect to Anna is by remembering and being what he
implications of his words and his boundless humility. said: “Surrender to Bhagavan and he will take care”.
— Michael Highburger, publications — Veena Sudhir

S undaranna lived his life according to the dictum

that the less one speaks of oneself, the more one
abides in Bhagavan and the greater the impact one
A sense of poignancy and personal loss fills the heart
in remembering the smile of warm recognition
and affection one met in Sundaranna each day, which
will have on others in getting them to live up to the did not abate even when he was physically afflicted.
high standards that Bhagavan set for us all. Such is the — ASK and Aparna
silent, veiled glory of Sundaram Anna, the impact of
whom makes us aspire to get some of what he had.
— Sivadas Krishnan, administration
T hough my wife and I met Sundaranna only a few
times, he shared many incidents from Bhagavan’s
life. My wife would listen to him with rapt attention

A nna is ever with us in our memories as a very

simple, gentle and loving human being. We could
always see the reflection of Bhagavan’s teachings in
and be filled with deep love for Bhagavan after meeting
him. Sundaranna whose heart was soaked in devotion
with unwavering faith in Bhagavan, infused the same in
his interactions. Many incidents happened during others. His unassuming simplicity was impossible not
his tenure which revealed how he worked like an to notice. With the disappearance of his physical form,
instrument and was guided by Bhagavan. devotees have lost wonderful soul but not the abiding
He was fond of writing from Bhagavan’s works and was impression that he has left in our hearts
ever willing to share what he wrote. Whenever he wrote — Madhurananda and Sangeetha
something it always started with ‘Om Namo Bhagavate ***

page 18
 Events in Tiruvannamalai: Local Coronavirus Update

an hour and Prime Minister Modi said recently that the

country as a whole would soon be testing more than
10 lakh samples per day across the nation. One would
imagine that in scaling up the rate of testing the rate
of positivity would be reduced. But the opposite is the
case. The proportion of people who turn out positive
has been increasing steadily, from about 3.75 per cent
at the start of May to 8.56 per cent now. This would
seem to suggest that the rate of spread is outpacing
the capacity to test. Tamil Nadu leads the country in
testing, having tested more than 24 lakh samples.
About 4.5 crore reusable masks are being distributed
at no cost to 70 lakh families around the country
and mask-use is widespread locally. A few days ago

W ith nearly 15 lakhs reported Covid-19 cases and

with 50,000 new cases each day, India ranks
third in the world in the number of documented cases.
79 Covid-19 deaths were recorded in Tamil Nadu,
a state that is reporting 2.2 lakhs of total cases and
3,500 total deaths. In Tiruvannamalai with 5,300
Tamil Nadu has had 7,000 new cases each day for active cases, containment measures remain largely in
many consecutive days now. New antigen testing kits place but every effort is being made to allow basic
are being put into use which provide results within half services and essential activities to continue. —

Aim high, aim at the highest, and all lower aims are thereby achieved. It is looking below on the stormy
sea of differences that makes you sink. Look up, beyond these and see the One Glorious Real, and you
are saved. ~ Sri Bhagavan, In Days of Great Peace, p. 94.

Obituary: Sri Margabandhu Sastrigal

S ri Margabandhu Sastrigal attained the lotus feet of

Arunachala on 18th July, 2020, in Chennai. Born in
Tiruvannamalai District, he attended the Maha Nirvana of
Bhagavan Ramana on 14th April, 1950. Sattvic by nature, he was
respected by all for his humility, faith, silence and unassuming
nature. He regularly participated in the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri
Vidya Havan, Navaratri and Ashram Kumbhabhishekams over
the last fifty years. He recited along with other pundits the
liturgy for the 2019 Sri Vidya Havan. —

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 Obituary: Sri V.S. Ramanan

S ri Venkataraman Sundara Ramanan was born to T. N. Venkataraman and

Nagalakshmi on 29th May, 1934 (jyestha nakshatra). He came to live in
Tiruvannamalai at the age of three when his father started service in the
Ashram. He thus got to spend his formative years in Bhagavan’s presence. At
that time, the family was living in town but by July 1949, they moved to their
newly constructed house in Ramana Nagar. Early photos with Bhagavan
reveal the rich lives the children had in the presence of Bhagavan.
Sundaram studied engineering and obtained a B.E., (Electrical Engineering)
from Madras University, in 1957. He married Susila in 1960 and went to
Germany in 1965 where he got a diploma in power engineering with special
reference to chemical plants and worked for Siemens. He later served as 13.5
years in M/s Neyveli Lignite Corporation Neyveli (1957-71 and 21 years (1971-
92) in M/s Indian Petrochemicals Corporation, Baroda as General Manager. In
1992, he took an early retirement and came to settle in Tiruvannamalai to assist
his father in managing the Ashram. In 1994, President T. N. Venkataraman,
already 80 years old, decided to take sannyas and turned the leadership of the
Ashram over to Sundaranna who was installed as the Ashram’s third president.
The Ashram prospered under his guidance and he oversaw the digitisation of
the bookstall and publications departments, as well as the establishment of the Ashram Archives, built to house and preserve
the 1,500 photographic negatives of Bhagavan, among other precious items. Over time, the demand for more accommodation
led Sundaranna to construct the Post Office quarters and the accommodation just opposite, as well as Achalam just a few doors
down from the President’s compound. By the mid-1990s, the old Dining Hall was no longer able to serve the growing number
of visitors on ordinary weekends except by multiple sittings and so the decision was taken to make an extension. Abutting the
old Dining Hall on its northern side, the new annex was completed in the middle of
1998. Sundaranna also oversaw the renovation and expansion of Morvi Compound
in 2010. By 2009 he established a modern dispensary in the Ashram proper as well as
the new library and auditorium. Meanwhile, construction projects and renovations in
various locations included Bhagavan’s birth house in Tiruchuli as well as the Tirukoilur
and Tiruchuzhi Temple renovations and Mahakumbhabhishekams.
Sundaram’s first order of business was service to devotees and the Ashram. He took
it to heart and sought to carry out this sacred duty with utmost sincerity. The following
personal note that he dictated to his assistant-in-charge in 2012 testifies to this:
I have committed myself to the conviction that everything within the Ashram is performed by Sri
Bhagavan including the so-called inmate’s functions which is also ordained by him. He is the only one
within the precincts of the Ashram. Nobody can treat anyone else well or ill here, for Bhagavan is
the only doer here. Since March 2009, I have begun to practice living in the NOW as Bhagavan has
declared things to be ordained. Such a practice, I feel, will keep me ever at His Feet.
Sundaram surrendered to Bhagavan and wiped clean the slate in order to live only
in Bhagavan. He was absorbed in Bhagavan as gently as he lived his life, at 9.21am on
the 21st July, wearing his characteristic sweet smile. He is survived by his wife Sushila,
his son Anand, his daughter Aruna, his son-in-law, Ramkumar, his two daughters-in-
law, Ranjani and Nitya, six grandchildren and two brothers, Ganesan and Mani. —

Publisher: Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan

page 20 [email protected]