Prev Next 26th December, 1949
Sometime in September or October 1944, Bhagavan
received a small book on Ayurveda written by Achanta
Lakshmipati which he read and, in accordance with a
prescription therein, got Karpura Thailam prepared (a
medicinal oil prepared from camphor, etc.) and began using
it for the muscular pain in his legs. Observing this, some
devotees said that Narayana Thailam was better, some said
that Mahanarayana Thailam was much better and so on and
so forth. After hearing these suggestions, Krishnaswami got
exasperated and said, “How many medicated oils can we
apply? However much we rub them on, the pain has not
abated.” Bhagavan remarked, “Oho! When they are
discussing about the relative merits of the various medicated
oils, why do you feel exasperated?”
Krishnaswami: “Some treatment is being given. Why
do they not keep quiet? How could we manage if everyone
suggests a different remedy? How often have we applied
those medicated oils? Has the pain been cured thereby?”
Bhagavan: “No. But then, you never rubbed that oil with
a desire that the pain should be cured. If you had done it with
a strong will, why would that pain not leave us? As the pain
has not disappeared, they are suggesting other remedies. Why
would they suggest all these things if the pain were cured?”
Krishnaswami: “There is some relief now by the use of
this Karpura Thailam. Why do they bother us by suggesting
all those other remedies?”
Bhagavan: “But then, are you sure that the pain will
disappear completely with this medicine?”
Krishnaswami: “We can’t say. But we shall try.”
Bhagavan: “Yes, that is the thing. If you apply the
medicine with a desire that the pain should disappear
completely, it will certainly disappear. But then, you are afraid
that if it disappears you will not be allowed to touch
Bhagavan’s legs. That is why you rub the oil with a desire
that the pain should not disappear completely. That being
so, why will that pain disappear?”
One afternoon at 3 o’clock, a devotee who was going
to Madras gave a small tin containing some ointment and
said that if that medicine was applied to Bhagavan’s legs,
the pain would decrease, and that if Bhagavan would
continuously use it, he would bring a dozen tins of it from
Madras. Bhagavan replied, saying, “Enough. The Karpura
Thailam I am using now is adequate. Why do I require such
costly medicines? If diet is properly regulated, no medicine
will be required. When these medicines are used, the ailment
apparently disappears, but it starts again. That is because
of some irregularity in diet, and that can’t be helped.” The
devotee said, “If that is so, it will be all right if the diet is
suitably regulated. Why not do that at least?”
“Yes, Sir. That is good. But how can I regulate my diet?
Whenever I think of having a simple diet with pepper water,
they will say that there is a bhiksha day. I cannot avoid vadai*
and payasam
(milk pudding) prepared for the occasion.
“When the servers come to Bhagavan they serve much
more than to the others. No doubt that is done out of devotion,
but what to do? I must eat it. If food is thus taken, it will result
in some ailment or other. How will that ailment be cured by
medicines? It must get cured of its own accord. Once when I
was on the hill, I was suffering from a severe cough. Many
tonics were given, but they were of no use. I came down and
stayed here. I do not know whether it was because of the air
that blows here over the medicinal herbs of the hills, but it
somehow got cured of its own accord. The forest itself became
full of Chyavanaprash (a specific Ayurvedic medicine for cough).
The present ailment also will get cured likewise. This tin is
enough. Please do not bring any more,” said Bhagavan.
A devotee said, “Swami, some people, after they come
out of the state of samadhi, live on butter only. We have actually
seen some such people. How do they manage it?”
Bhagavan replied with a laugh, “Aha! What is that if a
person puts a handful of butter on a leaf and eats it, how will
he have any appetite afterwards? For that purpose one need
not come out of a state of samadhi. Anyone can eat it. There
are several herbs. If they are eaten, one will not feel hungry
at all. Some people keep those herbs in their pockets or in
their bags and go on eating them one after another. How
could they have any appetite thereafter? People then say
that this Swami is living without food and he is a great soul.
He thereby becomes a Swami.”
*
Vadai is a cake prepared with all dhals, like black-gram, green
gram, etc., ground into a paste and fried in oil.
(c) Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai