I was born in 1940 at Thrissur to father Sri V.M.Subramaniya Iyer, a businessman and mother Smt. A. Meenambal, a devotee. I used to get up in the morning listening to songs of Nataraja Pathu, Ashtapathi and ‘Kani Kanum Nerum” on Guruvayurappa being recited by mother and perhaps I inherited that quality of devotion from my mother. Though I could not get higher education, I managed to settle myself in life and even prosper with devotion alone as my forte.
One day, when I was still a child, a great Pundit came and initiated all of us to Thiruppugazh form of worship. As I grew up, I learned that he was Sri Mani Iyer from Calcutta. The songs created an impact on me I was fortunate enough to attend the bhajan of Sri T.M. Krishna Swamy Iyer, the torch-bearer of Thiruppugazh, held at Kandhakottam Murugan temple at Chennai and garland him. Though there were changes all around, at personal level, at relations level and at environment level, the Thiruppugazh connection remained changeless like rock. I continued my Thiruppugazh connection under my Guru, Sri N.V. Vaidyanathan whose captivating voice of Thiruppugazh reverberate all over Tamil Nadu and even beyond.
As I am now stepping into the age of 87, I recall the grace showered on me personally by Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the 69th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and many others like Sri Anjam Madhavan Namboodiri of Guruvayur, Swamy Ranganathananda erstwhile President of Sri Ramakrishna Miission, Erode Sri Rajamani Bhagavathar, Sri Ram Irusu Pillai, Guruji Sri Raghavan and Ramana Charana Teerthar Sri Nochur Swamigal and listening to his Bhagavatam discourse is my prime pre-occupation now. Above all, there is an experience which is worth cherishing and worth recalling; the experience with Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, the 68th head of Kamakoti Peetham.
Though Sri S.V. Narasimhan, head of Hauer Trading Company Calcutta interviewed me and kept the appointment order in abeyance, it was only later when I accidentally knocked at his door for a donation, he remembered me and asked me to joint duty. That not only heralded the beginning of a new career but also contact with one of the towering spiritual giant, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Math.
While sanctioning my leave for going to my native place at Thrissur, Sri Narasimhan an ardent disciple , advised me to break my journey and Madras, see Paramacharya at Kancheepuram and get his blessings Honestly, I had no idea about Paramacharya at that time, excepting an abstract image of a saint. I found this a small interruption into my intimate moments with my relatives. Since I could not say ‘no’ to a well meaning advice, I said ‘yes’ and landed at Kancheepuram. While standing in the queue, I noticed Maha Periyava, seated on the ground, surrounded by other disciples. He was smilingly giving Prasad to the devotees coming in front of him and giving his signal of blessing. When an individual takes an earnest step towards a noble path, the mind distracts him. It started working in my case too. “Acharya would just give the Prasad, show his hand in blessing and look for the other person. Nothing big is going to happen to me,” I thought. However, the moment I stood before the sage of Kanchi, amazingly all thoughts vanished and I experienced a divine positive energy radiating from him. His eyes directly looked at me and I felt I was blessed. I was surprised when, rather than waving his hand, as he did to others, he asked me to come near and sit before him. He asked me in Tamil: “Where are you coming from?” I said: “Calcutta”. “Do you know Narasimhan?” he asked next. I was stunned. I said: “I am working in his company. He only advised me to come and seek your blessings“. “Sariyapochu” (very good) that was the exact word spoken by Swamigal in his characteristic smile. “Convey my blessings to him”, he added and gave me few Tulasi leaves as his Prasada. I could not believe that Jagadguru, venerated throughout the world, was talking to me and blessing me. I was humbled. In fact, he spent about 5 minutes with me, the privilege many other devotees were aspiring for. I realized that there was a magnetic power in him that attracted all devotees towards him. He was God’s incarnation (Avatar Purusha) and perhaps he has known in advance what was going on in my mind and like a real Guru, given me the vision to transcend the mind. His simplicity, his humility and above all the divine aura that surrounded him moved me beyond words. I realized the need to go beyond the concept of ‘My people and my native place’. I realized that the best ever-lasting relation one can have is the one with the Guru. I realized that by being in the presence of a sage like Paramacharya, for few minutes, I got all the experience of going to temple, listening to discourses, reading scriptures or doing Dhyana. It was the most memorable experience in my life, the experience which I cherish in my heart very closely and dearly for over 50 years and would continue to cherish throughout my life.
The grace of Guru is enough. Nothing else is needed. The grace of Guru itself lead us to realization that God resides within as the Self.
V.S. KRISHNAN