GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI by SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN
Sadhu Rangarajan
GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI by SADHU PROF. V. RANGARAJAN
Foreword by H.H. Swami Chidananda (Former President of Divine Life Society)
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR CENTENARY COMMEMORATION VOLUME
Veda rishaya samaarabhya vedaantaachaarya madhyamaah
Yogi Raamsuratkumaara paryantam vande guru paramparaam!
Salutations and adorations to all great preceptors of the holy land of Bharatavarsha right from the Vedic seers, through the great Vedanta Acharyas, to my Deekshaa Guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj of Tiruvannamalai!
Immediately after the initiation of this Sadhu by H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, at the Papa Ramdas Cave, popularly known as Banyan Tree Cave, on the auspicious Jayanti of Papa Ramdas on Tuesday, April 26, 1988, Yogi Ramsuratkumar presented this disciple before the august assembly that had gathered in the cave for His Master's Jayanti celebration. Though he had converted this proud professor into a humble Sadhu, he insisted that nothing should be given up even from the name and therefore called the disciple as 'Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan', the name that has stuck forever. Maatru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava, aachaarya devo bhava—'let the mother be God, the father be God and the preceptor be God'—the Shaastras say. The preceptor, unlike other Acharyas who give a new Sannyasa name to a disciple, retained the name given by this Sadhu's parents and repeatedly emphasized, "Renunciation is not giving up anything, nor is it taking up anything…. Till yesterday, you were doing things as you wished, but from now onwards, this Beggar is going to do my Father's work through you."
The first massive gathering of the devotees of my Master, H.H. Yogi Ramsuratkumar, addressed by this Sadhu was hardly a fortnight later. It was a two-day national seminar on "Destiny of Human Race and the Mission of His Holiness Yogi Ramsuratkumar" organized by ardent devotees like Sri A.R.P.N. Rajamanickam, Industrialist, and Dr. K. Venkatasubramanian, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University, and held at the Kamban Kalai Arangam, Pondicherry, on May 7 and 8, 1988. This Sadhu, with the blessings of his Master, arrived at Pondicherry on May 6 itself, to participate in the gathering. The first thing he did was to visit, on the early morning of May 7, 1988, the Ashram of his Paramaguru, Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo, the first among the "Three Fathers" as Yogi Ramsuratkumar called his three preceptors, the other two being Maharishi Ramana of Tiruvannamalai and Papa Ramdas of Kanhangad from whom he got the initiation. This Sadhu offered himself at the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo with tears welling in the eyes for the opportunity that was given to this humble Sadhu to be an instrument for the work of the great Master. Devotees of my Master gave this Sadhu a cordial welcome when he reached the Kalai Arangam, the venue of the Seminar. Pandita Indrani, a devotee from Trinidad, also joined the Sadhu. Eminent writers and scholars addressed the seminar. Sri Ramani Guruji released the Fourth Annual Number of TATTVA DARSANA dedicated to Yogi Ramsuratkumar on May 8, 1988, and Sri Rajamanickam received the first copy. Dr. Balachandran and Sri Shankararajulu, former Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University, referred to the work of Sadhuji, "GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI", and the special issue of TATTVA DARSANA. The souvenir, "Divine Message to Humanity", published on the occasion of the Seminar also carried articles and sayings of the Master reproduced from the special issue. A sannyasini, Bhavadharini Ammal, who was, in her poorvaashram, a devotee of the Sadhu, referred to the Sadhu as 'modern Bharatiyar' who integrated nationalism and religion. The Sadhu gave a fiery speech in the seminar, calling for the elevation of patriotism into a spiritual sadhana to fulfil the dreams of Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo and Yogi Ramsuratkumar to make Bharatavarsha once again the Loka Guru—the spiritual preceptor of the whole world. After the Seminar, Sadhuji sent the copies of the special issue of TATTVA DARSANA to his Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, through another devotee, Pon Kamaraj.
The mission of the Sadhu in spreading the message of the Master throughout the country and abroad now started. Every movement of the Sadhu from then on was intimated to his Master and his blessings obtained. As per the instructions of the Master, every time this Sadhu made a visit to Tiruvannamalai to meet the Master, a prior intimation was given to him and, like a cow waiting for its calf to return from grazing, the Master used to eagerly look forward to the Sadhu's visits and receive him as soon as he presented before the Master.
The second edition of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI, which was released by the sacred hands of the Master on the auspicious occasion of Gurupoornima on July 27, 1988, carried the story of the initiation of the Sadhu already narrated in the special Fourth Annual Number of TATTVA DARSANA and an article on the Master written for the issue. The Master used to take special interest in making this Sadhu and other devotees to read repeatedly the chapters from the book and the articles from the journal.
When this Sadhu expressed a desire to the Master that a book, "YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR, The Godchild, Tiruvannamalai " by Truman Caylor Wadlington needed to be reprinted, the Master said, the author's permission was needed for that and, therefore, asked the Sadhu to go in for a third edition of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI. Accordingly, the third edition was released by the Master himself, on October 15, 1990, two days prior to Deepavali, on October 17, 1990, the scheduled date of the publication, as this Sadhu had to depart immediately to Northern India to spread Ramnam on the instructions of the Master.
The Second Part of GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI serialized in TATTVA DARSANA is more or less a running commentary of the various visits of this Sadhu to the abode of the Master and the step by step guidance and the immense benediction that the Sadhu received from the Yogi right from the time of his initiation by the Master. It narrates the founding of YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION with the benign blessings of the great Master and the rapid strides made by the association all over the country and abroad in spreading the World Ramnam Movement to fulfil the mission of the Master in helping the work of His Gurubhagini, Mataji Krishnabai of Anandashram, who commenced the 15,500 crore Nama Japa Yagna. Detailed descriptions of Bhagavan’s commands to the Sadhu to write specific editorials in TATTVA DARSANA and bring out books on Him under the auspices of Sister Nivedita Academy are given in this part. How Bhagavan’s immense trust and confidence in the disciple made Him command the disciple to carry out actions as His emissary and in introducing Ma Devaki as his “Eternal Slave” are highlighted in this part. It also throws light on the strong defence of His disciple by the Master when the disciple was subjected to severe criticism and His command to Sadhuji to attend the inauguration of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram at Tiruvannamalai and to abandon all his activities and remain by His side in Tiruvannamalai for some time to take care of the Ashram trust when a crisis arose are highlighted in this part.
GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI, Part III, covers the most important events in the life of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the last decade of His life. Bhagavan’s dialogues and conversations with the Sadhu covering vast areas of knowledge including religion, philosophy, culture, national and international matters during the periods of stay of the Sadhu with the Master and during his frequent visits to Master’s abode, His discussions with trustees of the Ashram, His messages and commands through devotees to His disciple in the discharge of the work to fulfill the mission entrusted by the Master, His summons to the Sadhu to come to Tiruvannamalai for consultations and His directions with regard to important matters concerning Him and the Ashram and authorizing Sadhu to reply on His behalf to criticism of Ashram in the press, His incessant guidance and directions to the Sadhu with regard to various activities of the Sadhu inside the country and abroad, and the regular epistles of the Sadhu reporting to Bhagavan about each and every activity undertaken by him, till the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan are narrated in detail. The visits of Sadhu on behalf of the Master to distant countries in spreading the Master’s mission, the visit of devotees from abroad to Bhagavna’s abode, the setting up of Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram & Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Centre in Bangalore with the blessings of Bhagavan, the consecration of Sri Bharatamat Mandir and the Mahakumbhaabhisheka are described in this part. The incessant flow of epistles from the disciple to Bhagavan reporting about each and every activity and seeking His permission and directions with the date of the epistles of Sadhu, the conversations of the Sadhu with Bhagavan in detail with date and time and the names of devotees of Bhagavan present on the occasions of his visit are all given in detail.
The whole narration in all the three parts, is, indeed, not the intellectual work of this Sadhu, but the spiritual outpouring of the inspiration that his Master produces from the disciple's bosom. Come, let us swim in the Ganga of the spiritual experiences of this humble Sadhu with the Great Master, Yogi Ramsuratkumar. The release of this Yogi Ramsuratkumar Centenary Commemoration Volume will prove itself to be a grand and comprehensive compendium on the life and mission of one of the greatest Avataras of the Divine in the recent period the history of Bharatavarsha—BHAGAVAN YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR MAHARAJ. May the grace and blessings of the great Master enable spiritual seekers, especially the devotees of Bhagavan, to have a grand vision of the Divinity in human form, who lived and moved in our midst in our life time. Vande Mataram! Aum Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram! Aum Namo Bhagavate Yogi Ramsuratkumaraya!
CONTENTS
Part I Saga of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Benediction
Publishers’ Note
Preface
Chapter 1. The Morning Star
Chapter 2.The Twilight
Chapter 3. The Dawn
Chapter 4. The Blazing Sun
Chapter 5. The Light Infinite
Chapter 6. The Grace Abounding
Part II The Deekshaa Guru as Seen by the Shishya
Preface
Chapter 1. The Master As A Mother And A Monarch
Chapter 2. The Divine Master
Chapter 3. The Great Beggar
Chapter 4. The Master Of Alms
Chapter 5. Greatness Of Guru Infinite
Chapter 6. Yogi Jayanti And Youth Association
Chapter 7. The Himalayas Of Humility
Chapter 8. Mahasamadhi Of Poojya Mataji Krishnabai
Chapter 9. Birth Of World Ramnam Movement
Chapter 10. Flame Of Ramnam Spreads
Chapter 11. The Descent Of The Divine Grace
Chapter 12. Bhagavan—The Divine Healer
Chapter 13. Master’s Blessings On Disciple’s Birthday
Chapter 14. Ramnam Saptaham And Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti
Chapter 15. “Hinduism today” Interview of Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Chapter 16. First Anniversary of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Youth Association
Chapter 17. Eternal Sleep Of Sadhu’s Mother
Chapter 18. Gospel Of Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Chapter 19. Bhagavan Releases Sister Nivedita Academy Publications
Chapter 20. Bhagavan’s Illness And Dilemma Of His Disciple
Chapter 21. Master Protects His Disciple In U.P. On fire
Chapter 22 . Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti 1990 and Hectic Ramnam Campaign in Tamilnadu
Chapter 23. Ramnam Campaign Spreads In Maharashtra
Chapter 24. Ramnam Fire in U.P. and Bhagavan’s Miracle on the Lap of Mother Ganga
Chapter 25. Grand Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti of 1991 at Chennai
Chapter 26. National Youth Day and Swami Vivekananda Jayanti Celebrations 1992
Chapter 27. Rapid Strides of Ramnam Movement
Chapter 28. Yogiji Showers Blessings on Sadhu’s Work
Chapter 29. Leaping Flames of Ramanama Yagna in the North
Chapter 30. Moulding Of The ‘Principal Disciple’
Chapter 31. Bhagavan’s Emissary
Chapter 32. Master’s Mission Spreads In The South
Chapter 33. Bhagavan’s Leela with His Initiated Disciple
Chapter 34. Meeting Of Two Biographers Of Bhagavan in His Presence
Chapter 35. Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Research Centre’s Maiden Publication
Chapter 36. Master Wants His Disciple To Bless His “Eternal Slave”
Chapter 37. Bhagavan Releases “Tattva Darsana” Introducing Devaki As His “Eternal Slave”
Chapter 38. Bhagavan Defends Sadhu And Commands To Take Charge Of Ashram
Part III Bhagavan’s Actions Through The Disciple
Chapter 1. Sojourn Of Sadhu in Tiruvannamalai in the Service Of Bhagavan
Chapter 2. March Of Yogiji’s Mission
Chapter 3. ‘The Mountain Path’ Vs ‘Tattva Darsana’
Chapter 4. Bhagavan Praises Disciple As “Shiva Who Swallowed the Poison”
Chapter 5. Sadhu And Bharati Stay With Bhagavan And Devaki
Chapter 6. Ramnam Campaign Expansion In the South and North
Chapter 7. Release Of “Arunai Yogi Guru Nama Mahimai”
Chapter 8. One Lakh Devotees in Rameshwaram Satsang &
Bhagavan Blesses Sadhu’s South Africa Visit
Chapter 9. The World Hindu Conference In South Africa
Chapter 10. Sister Nivedita Academy Of South Africa
Chapter 11. Bhagavan Blesses Nivedita’s Wedding
Chapter 12. All India Ramnam Shibir & Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti 1995
Chapter 13. Bhagavan Blesses His Envoy To South Africa
Chapter 14. Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s Work In South Africa
Chapter 15. Bhagavan Releases German “Glimpses Of A Great Yogi”
Chapter 16. Reply to “Dinamalar” On Behalf of Bhagavan
Chapter 17. New Responsibilities To Sadhu Before Going Abroad
Chapter 18. Bhagavan’s Miracle In South Africa
Chapter 19. Bhagavan Permits Sadhu’s Fifth Visit To South Africa
Chapter 20. Bhagavan Blesses Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram Construction
Chapter 21. Devotees From Abroad In Yogi Ramsuratkumar Jayanti 1998
Chapter 22. Bhagavan Blesses Bhoomipooja Of Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram
Chapter 23. Sadhu’s Dharma Prachar In South Africa & Botswana
Chapter 24. Nepal Visit, Yogi Jayanti & Inauguration of Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram
Chapter 25. Dharmacharyas Visit Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram
Chapter 26. Bhagavan Blesses Vivek’s Marriage
Chapter 27. Bhagavan’s Serious Illness And Sadhu’s Distress
Chapter 28. Mahasamadhi Of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Chapter 29. A Loving Appeal To My Master's Devotees
Chapter 30. Sri Bharatamata Mandir Consecration & Kumbhaabhishekam
The entire book, GLIMPSES OF A GREAT YOGI by Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan, comprising of all the above-mentioned three parts is available here. sribharatamatamandir.org/word/?page_id=412