Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Hence conversation in Bhagavan’s presence centred around
Mother Alagamma. This morning, the office staff brought a
vessel containing sacred Ganges water and also a kamandalam
(earthen or wooden pot used by ascetics), saying some devotees
had sent them. Immediately thereafter, Bhagavan began to
tell us about some happenings of the past.

“When mother came to live with me I was in the
Virupaksha Cave itself. At that place there was no water. She
was, therefore, inconvenienced on that account. We used to
go to the Skandasramam, to bathe as there was a waterfall.

She was too old, you see, and so she could not accompany
us. We had at the time two big kamandalams with us. We
made one of them ourselves. The other, some one brought
and gave us. Each could hold a small potful of water. I used
to bring water in both of them, carrying one in each hand.

She used to sit down wearing a small cloth and I used to
pour the water over her head just as we do abhishekam over
an idol. That is how she used to have her bath. There was no
cooking. Some one used to wash her cloth and bring it back.

That was all. If water was brought in those two kamandalams
all her requirements used to be met.”
“The kamandalams should then be very large,” I said.

“Yes. They were large,” said Bhagavan. “What has
become of them now?” asked some devotee.

Bhagavan: “One of them must be here. The other
disappeared even while we were in the Skandasramam.

Vallimalai Muruganar used to visit us even while we were in
Virupaksha Cave. After our residence was changed to the
Skandasramam, he came again. He had a loud voice and
was very fond of chitchatting. He cast his eyes on that
kamandalam. He knew it was no good asking Perumalswamy
and others and so he approached Mother. She was a
simpleton. If anyone flattered her by saying that there was
no one equal to her in this world, she used to give away
whatever was asked of her. He was clever enough to discover
this. ‘Mother, you have given birth to a diamond of a son.

There is no one to equal you in this world. Your son is a very
great personage, unparalleled,’ and so on. After praising her
like that for some time, he finally said, ‘If you give me one
kamandalam, I will bring Ganges water in it and will do you
abhishekam with it.’ No sooner he said that, than she was
overjoyed and gave away the kamandalam. He could not,
however, bring Ganges water during her lifetime. But
recently, that is about twelve years back, he did bring Ganges
water in that kamandalam and performed abhishekam over
Mother’s image, thus keeping his word. That was the first
time she had abhishekam performed with Ganges water.

Subsequently, several people did abhishekam with Ganges
water but they brought it in small vessels whereas he brought
it in a large kamandalam. The kamandalams that we have just
received are small in comparison.”