Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

From tomorrow onwards I will wear it properly.” “That’s
not it,” said Bhagavan. “The pandits who come for parayana
tie their dhotis in the orthodox style. That is why I asked you.

* The orthodox style consists of weaning a dhoti round the body
with one end taken in between the legs and tucked in at that back.

This is how Maharashtrians and others wear the dhoti and also all
married men.

Moreover, you are a Maharashtrian. You are also a married
man. I am only interested to know whether you are
accustomed to that style or not.” “No, Bhagavan,” said the
doctor. “From tomorrow onwards, I shall wear it in that
manner only.” From that day onwards, he began wearing
his dhoti in the same manner as is done by married people.

Bhagavan, of course, saw this and laughed within himself.

With regard to the Veda Parayana, if anybody commits a
mistake, Bhagavan generally corrects him in this subtle way.

In 1938, a Malayalee devotee by name Sankaran wrote
Bhagavan’s biography in Malayalam and brought it to
Bhagavan saying, “We are thinking of sending it to the press.

Bhagavan may be pleased to go through the book before
publication.” Bhagavan thereupon made a few corrections
after informing the people around him. It seems that in the
book it was stated in one place that people of all castes could
study the Vedas. Bhagavan noticed this and corrected it to
say that all castes could practise the Vedas by inserting the
word abhyasa in place of the word adhyayana. As Ramanatha
Iyer was there in the hall at the time, he heard all this. He
did not know at the time that there was a difference between
the words abhyasa and adhyayana. Hence some people thought
that Bhagavan had approved of adhyayana (Study of Vedas)
by all castes. With the intention of telling Kunjuswami about
this Sankaran went home as soon as Bhagavan went into the
hall for food.

It seems in those days Kunjuswami and Ramanatha Iyer
were living in a room by the side of the path leading to
Palakothu. Both of them sat on a platform in their verandahs
after food and, during a discussion about sundry matters,
Ramanatha Iyer said, ‘Look, Kunjuswami. From tomorrow,
you also can do Vedadhyayanam. Bhagavan has decided about
it today.” Bhagavan, who usually goes to Palakothu after food,
happened to be returning from there at the time and having
heard this, said, “What? Is it I that decided thus? I never
said all castes could do adhyayana.”
Both of them were startled by this sudden interruption
and got up and with folded hands, Ramanatha Iyer said, “It
is only a short time back Bhagavan had approved of
Sankaran’s biography. It is stated that people of all castes
could study Vedas (Vedadhyayana).” “Yes. I did go through
the book. I corrected, however, the word adhyayana into
‘abhyasa (practice)’” said Bhagavan. “Is there a difference
between adhyayana and abhyasa?” they asked. “Why not? Veda
means jnana. So I said Vedabhyasa (practice of jnana). That’s
all. I never said adhyayana (study) can be done,” said
Bhagavan. Ramanatha Iyer replied, “I was not able to
understand the difference. Only now when Bhagavan has
explained to me clearly, I could comprehend the whole thing.

Unless it is clearly stated that adhyayana should not be done
by all castes, it will not be possible for ordinary people to
understand.” Bhagavan said, “Let people understand in
whatever way they like; why should we bother? Are we
responsible for all the misunderstandings in this world?” So
saying Bhagavan went towards the Ashram.