Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Besides that, from 1943 onwards, the number of visitors of
all types increased still more. Moreover, some poor ladies
were coming with their children to prostrate and the
children were urinating there. The mothers do not get even
a cloth to wipe it out; and even if a cloth was given, some of
the modern ladies would not take the trouble to clean the
place. Therefore, Bhagavan’s attendants had to clean it up.

They were tired and vexed at this and thought of
preventing such uncivilised people from coming into the
hall. Bhagavan, however, would not, under any
circumstances, agree to it. Hence, they began thinking of
preventing ladies from sitting in the hall and making
arrangements for their sitting in the verandah only. I came
to know of it indirectly and was very much grieved. I told
them, “Just because one or two people behave in an
uncivilised manner, why do you intend to penalise all ladies
by preventing them from sitting inside? We trusted
Bhagavan and have come here from long distances. Please
do not penalise all of us. I will clean that place whenever
necessary.” From that time I began looking after that work.

Even so, they were not satisfied. At last, one day, they went
to Bhagavan and told him that they would make seating
arrangements for ladies outside. Bhagavan thereupon asked
why men should sit in the hall if women could not sit there.

The attendants stated the difficulties they were experiencing
in looking after the ladies that come and go. Bhagavan said,
“What work is there in the hall even for Bhagavan? It will
be all right if he sits under the almond tree, which is
opposite. There will then be no trouble or worry for
anybody, whatever the children may do.” When he said
that, they gave up all their attempts to isolate the ladies.

Instead, the window on one side was replaced by the door
on the other side and vice-versa. After that, the ladies got
their seating place opposite to Bhagavan’s feet.

A similar incident happened in 1946 when I was
appointed as a volunteer for ladies during the Brahmotsavam.

I have already written to you that Bhagavan changed his
seat to the Golden Jubilee Hall immediately it was ready,
that is, on the third day of the festival. He did not thereafter
come back to the hall even during the rest period in the
afternoons. There was not even a curtain around the sofa.

Only a rope was tied to prevent people from the villages
crowding around him in the afternoons. The people used to
wander about the town and so when they came to Bhagavan’s
presence very much tired, some used to squat on the floors
with legs outstretched; some used to discuss their affairs in
loud voices and some used to lie down and snore. That used
to happen between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Mothers used to
sleep while breast-feeding the children and the other children
used to wander and play about everywhere. When attempts
were made to send such people away, it seems Bhagavan
said, “Poor people! They must have wandered about a good
deal. They are now taking some rest. How could you drive
them away? Let them stay on.”
I went there soon after 2 p.m. By that time, those people
were leaving. Krishnaswami and others had to clean the
places themselves. Unable to put up with that nuisance any
longer, Krishnaswami was requesting Bhagavan to sit in the
hall only. Bhagavan did not agree.

Krishnaswami: “Who will tidy up the nuisance
committed by the children?”
Bhagavan: “It should be all right if their mothers are
asked to clean it up themselves and are requested to be
careful thereafter.”
Krishnaswami: “Who is there to tell them all that? If it
were the Congress, they have women volunteers for looking
after the women visitors.”
Bhagavan (looking at me with a smile): “There she is.

We have a volunteer. Why do you say we have none?”
I: (understanding Bhagavan’s instructions): “Will they
care to listen to me?”
Bhagavan (cooly): “Why not? Outsiders will certainly
carry out your instructions.”
I: “Then it is all right. I shall certainly tell them.”
Bhagavan: “Poor people! They come here only to see
Swami; and they get all the required conveniences here.”
In accordance with Bhagavan’s orders I looked after
the work from that day. That arrangement was found very
convenient, and so the office people considered the matter
and confirmed me in that work. Bhagavan wanted to give
darshan to poor people in that way during those ten days
and he sat there too, with kind solicitude for them. I therefore
felt that I should also do that much of service to them.

As you know, during the time of the Jayanti, Mahapuja
and other celebrations, Bhagavan does not get up for his
meals unless and until the feeding of the poor starts and is
half-finished. It seems in the past, during such festive
occasions, Bhagavan did not take his food except with the
last batch. It is only recently, on representations made by
devotees, that Bhagavan has been taking food after the
feeding of the poor was halfway through. Daily, before the
time for the midday meal, and before striking the gong, rice
was mixed with all the other preparations, made into balls
and was sent out for distribution to the poor. That custom
prevailed for a long time. Within recent times, however, it so
happened that the distribution was done either while meals
were being taken or soon after that. One day, Bhagavan saw
a poor man struggling under a tree as he could not get his
share of the food. Next day, when the gong was struck,
Bhagavan got up and went to the tree where the poor people
had gathered, stood there and said, “If you do not give them
food first, I will not come to the dining hall at all. I will stand
under the tree along with these people, stretch out my hands
for food like them, and when I am given a ball of food, I will
eat it, go straight to the hall and sit there.” From that day
onwards, it is only after food is sent to the poor, they strike
the gong in the dining hall.

You know what happened one day in February 1947?
A poor man came into the hall and stood opposite to
Bhagavan’s sofa. As Bhagavan was busy writing something,
he did not notice him. The attendants asked the poor man
to go out. He did not go. “If you do not go away, why not
sit?” they said. He did not move. Bhagavan lifted his head
and looked at him questioningly. The poor man said with
great eagerness, “Swami, I do not want anything. My stomach
is burning with hunger. Please arrange to give me one handful
of rice to satisfy this great hunger.” Bhagavan looked at his
attendants indicating his intentions. “For this small thing,
should you ask Bhagavan? Come, let us go,” said one of the
attendants and took the poor man towards the kitchen. After
they left, Bhagavan looked at all those in the hall and said,
“Do you see that? As he is a very poor man, he has no desires
except one and that is to fill his stomach with food as it is
burning with hunger. With that, he will be satisfied and will
go. He goes and lies down under some tree and sleeps
happily. Where do we have the satisfaction that he has? We
have any number of desires. If one desire is satisfied another
one comes up. Hence where is the chance for our desires to
be satisfied?”
Is it not clear from this that in Bhagavan’s presence, there
is a shelter for the weak, the helpless and the poor at all times?