Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

This year in particular, as there was no rain, the function
went off very well. In the afternoon, from 3 o’clock onwards,
the devotees started making preparations for the festival at
the Ashram. In the Jubilee Hall, the floor was decorated with
lime and rice powder floral designs, while hanging from the
roof all round, were mango leaf festoons. On such occasions,
the crowds which come to town for this Dipotsavam (Festival
of Lights) usually visit the Ashram in the morning as they go
round the hill; whereas in the evenings, it is mostly the
Asramites who are present at the Ashram celebrations, and
there is no crowd.

On this evening, when Bhagavan went out to the
cowshed, the attendants placed his couch in the open space
facing the summit of the hill, spread the bedding on it and
put a stool with all the things on it that Bhagavan usually
has by him. Opposite the couch a large shallow iron pan was
placed on a high stool, ghee poured into it and a wick placed
in the centre; flowers and garlands were strewn around it.

Just as these preparations were nearing completion,
Bhagavan came from the cowshed with his attendants, and
it was as though it were actually Lord Siva Himself arriving
on the scene. Spontaneously those gathered there rose;
Bhagavan seated himself on the couch and all prostrated
before him. We then sat in rows, the men on Bhagavan’s
right, the women on his left, along the steps leading to the
Hill. The space in front of Bhagavan was filled, not only
with baskets of fruits brought by the devotees, but also with
vessels of all sorts full of sweetmeats and other preparations.

When the ghee brought by devotees was poured into the
pan, it was overflowing. Camphor was then placed on the
wick. The fragrance from the lighted incense sticks spread
on all sides and created a holy atmosphere.

Bhagavan sat lovingly looking at all the devotees and
related to those near him the significance of the Festival of
Lights. He also pointed out the exact place where the
deepam was to be lit on the hilltop. After that, Veda Parayana
began.

By the time the parayana was over, the sun had set. Soon,
little lights in earthenware saucers were lit all round the hall
and garlands of electric lights of many colours were switched
on. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the lighting of the sacred
beacon on the hilltop and the attendants had handed to
Bhagavan a binocular with which he, too, was eagerly
scanning the hill. While his gaze was concentrated on the
summit of the hill, ours was concentrated on his Divine face,
for it was just a reflection of Arunachala.

With the firing of crackers at the Temple, the light
on the hilltop appeared. Immediately, the ‘akhanda jyoti’
(uninterrupted) light, opposite Bhagavan was lighted. The
Brahmins rose and chanted the mantra, ‘na karmana
naprajaya dhanena’, and lit the camphor; kumkum and vibhuti
were distributed and then all the devotees sat down. After
Bhagavan had partaken of a little fruit and some
sweetmeats, the rest were distributed amongst the
devotees. Immediately after that, the devotees divided
themselves into two parties, one singing the hymns in the
“Akshara Mana Malai”, and the other taking up the refrain
‘Arunachala Siva’. After that, the five stanzas beginning with
‘Karunapurnasudhabhde’ in Sanskrit and its equivalent in
Tamil were recited.

Bhagavan sat resting his cheek on his hand, slightly
reclining on the pillow — his characteristic pose. His face
appeared as though mirroring his Self-illumination, with his
silence and his profound thought reflected on it. The moon
rose in the east and cast its light on him as though seeking
its light from him. I sat there, facing east, with my back
against the almond tree. If I looked west, I had the light of
the Arunachala Hill; if I looked ahead I had the brilliant
light of the moon; and if I looked to the right, I had the
glowing light emanating from Bhagavan’s face. What a sight
it was, and how lucky I felt that I had the three-faced Light
around me that night! I felt an inexplicable bliss and
involuntarily closed my eyes.

On hearing the sound of the dinner bell, I opened my
eyes. Bhagavan was looking steadily at me, and that look
was more than I could stand; involuntarily my head hung
down. Bhagavan smiled and entered the dining room, the
devotees following him.

After the meal, with Bhagavan’s permission, we, the
devotees, started for the walk round the hill. I shall write to
you about it some time later.