Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

town and those that had come for eradication of the plague
arranged a bhajan party. As some of the prominent people
amongst them had been coming to me off and on, they
requested me to attend the bhajan. When I expressed my
disinclination to join the party, they did not leave me alone
but pressed me to attend it. So I went there just to see the
whole thing. I was living in Pachiamman Temple at that time.

You know, there is a tank opposite that temple. They erected
several tents in the maidan adjacent to the tank bund and
arranged for the bhajan, there. The bhajan, however, was not
of the ordinary type. No, not at all. In the big tent they left
the required open space in the centre and arranged chairs
and benches around it as in a circus tent. They brought edibles
as for a tea party and arranged them all systematically as in
an exhibition. There was no limit to the flower garlands they
brought. Collectors, Tahsildars, and police were all there. They
arranged a special platform for me. As soon as I arrived, they
all got up, bowed before me, and requested me to sit on the
dais. I felt embarrassed. But what to do? I never knew they
would make so much fuss about it. Having gone there, I had
no alternative but to sit on the platform. They tried to garland
me but I declined saying that they should garland their own
dignitaries. They did accordingly. Till that was done, they did
not begin the bhajan. After I had sat down, they asked for
permission to start the bhajan. After one party had finished
their bhajan another party started theirs, while the others took
refreshments, soda and other drinks and thus took rest. Till
early morning there was eating and continuous bhajan, by
turns. I was the only one who did not touch or do anything. I
merely sat there. I felt satisfied and contented that they did
not press me to do anything. By daybreak all was over, and
there was not a single soul; all had left along with the tents.

Oh, they were all very enthusiastic and exhilarated.”
“So even in those days Bhagavan was held in high
esteem,” said Rajagopala Iyer.

“Yes. They did not start the bhajan until I came,” said
Bhagavan.

“This incident is not in the biography,” I said.

“Why? Is there not enough in it already? Why tell them
all this?” said Bhagavan.

“We do not know how many more incidents like this
have been kept from us,” I said. Bhagavan smiled and
assumed silence.