VI§
Relations with Followers and Coming of the Devotees
Chellachi Ammaiyar was born in a well-known farmer family in Chunnakam. She meticulously observed all the four paths (margas) of Chariyai, Kiriyai, Yoga and Gnana and lived gloriously with the grace of God. It appears that beginning 1914, Swamigal used to visit Chellachi Ammaiyar. She attained Maha Samadhi on 27th January 1929. Swamigal shared a few things about her to scholar Navaratnam who had noted down. These written material have not been published yet. I have written about them in Chellachi Ammaiyar’s Memorial issue:§
“It is necessary to mention here about some preceptors associated with the spiritual life of Chellachi Ammaiyar. Foremost among them would be Yoga Swamigal. We really need a Sekkilar (who wrote the biography of the spiritual life of 63 Saivite Saints)[AS1] to describe about the spiritual relationship between Ammaiyar and Swamigal. One will think and the other will put it into action. Those who have seen them together can never forget that scene very easily. Swamigal used to praise Ammaiyar to devotees who attained full enlightenment just by staying at home, without going to jungle or climbing mountains. Ammaiyar also had said many times that she had seen many renunciates in her life but not (a gem) “full renunciate” like Yoga Swamigal. The devotees will understand in due course about the wonderful happenings between them.”§
I shall not repeat here since I have written about them in detail in Sivathondan Sovereign Publication.§
Jaffna saw many new developments in 1916 and 1917. In 1916, the Young Men Hindu Association (Y.M.H.A.) was started big and had great influence in the life of young generation. Some of the important people who served in that Association were Justice M.S. Illayathambi, Advocate A. Ambalavanar, Muthaliyar S.Thiruchittambalam, Mr. M. Sabarathina Singhi and Mr. V. Muthukumaru. §
Pandit Mylvagananar
In 1917, Scholar Mylvagananar (later to become Swami Vipulanandar) was appointed as science teacher in Sampathiriyasiyar College. He lived in Anaippanthi. He formed Vivekanandar Association in his house. Notable figures in that association were scholar K.Navaratnam, Teacher S. Mayilvaganam, Teacher R.N. Muthukumaran B.A., Mr. V.S.S. Kumaraswamy, Mr.R.N. Suppiah and Scholar A. Periyathambipillai. In a newspaper article Periyathambipillai had written the following about the life of Scholar Mylvagananar at that time period:§
“What was in my imagination all the while, became a reality when I met scholar Mylvagananar in person in 1917. The house he lived in Aanaipanthi was more like a public house. Highly educated people, young people pursuing higher studies and many social service workers often frequented this house. Yoga Swamigal who rarely could be seen anywhere, also would be seen there. Due to Swamigal’s Grace, that house always appeared to be filled with new bright light and freshness. Swamigal was enormously gracious and fond of the Scholar. He saw a matured soul in him”.§
Scholar Navaratnam had narrated about his first meeting with Yogaswami in Chellachi Ammaiyar memorial: “One day in 1917, Muthaliyar, S. Thiruchittampalam, Mr.M.S. Elayathambi and Brahmashri E.K. Subramaniya Iyer went to have holy darshan of Ammaiyar. As I was a student then and showed keen interest in Hindu Youth Association, they took me along. I want to record my thanks to Mr. M. Sabaratna Singhi for making all arrangements for us to have Darshan of Ammaiyar. Though I went to see Ammaiyar, I was distracted by a person who looked like a sage, sitting near Ammaiyar. Those who came with me were concentrating their mind and eyes on Ammaiyar. However, my mind and eyes were somehow transfixed on the rishi sitting next to Ammaiyar. It was because of His magnificent appearance and nothing else. I did not know who He was and I had no knowledge of Him at that time. Only on our return journey to home, I learnt that He was the Swamigal of Columbuthurai which was the other common name for Sri Yoga Swamigal. I was engrossed by His appearance and He impressed me deep in my mind”.§
Close Followers
From the above account it is clear that the important people in Y.M.H.A., Vivekanandar Association, Mr. M.S. Elayathambi, Mr. M. Sabaratnasinghi, Mr. K. Navaratnam, Scholar Mylvagananar, Mr. T. Muthukumaru, Mr. V.C.C. Kumaraswamy and Mr. R.N. Suppaiyah all knew Swamigal in 1917. Later, all of them became close devotees of Swamigal. Among them, Mr.M. Sabaratnasinghi was the first devotee to light camphor before Swamigal and worshipped Him.§
Though Scholar Navaratnam had met Swamigal in 1917, his intimate realtions lasted till 1920. They were always together for more than five years. Every day early morning, Swamigal would go to Navaratnam’s house. Later, when Navaratnam goes to Central College, Swamigal also would accompany him. After Mr. Navaratnam had gone to College, Swamigal would stay in a tea shop run by Mr. Sinnathambi near the college. When Navaratnam return after College, Swamigal would go with him. Later in the evening, Swamigal and Navaratnam would go to Muthavalli with some devotees and sit there to read books of Swami Vivekananda and Aravinthar.§
“Sky is the Roof”
During holidays, Swamigal and Navaratnam would wander around in different towns.§
When Mr. Navaratnam fell ill of malaria fever, physician Muthukumaru treated him, while Swamigal and Mr.C. Mylvaganam took care of nursing work.§
Mr.C.Mylvaganam, lived in a room in Maruthanamadam when he was working in Ramanathan College as a teacher. Most of the time, Swamigal was seen in that room of Mr. C. Mylvaganam.§
For some time I stayed in a hostel, run by Mr. Mylvaganam, while I was studying in the Hindu College. It was located on the south side of Kasturiyar’s house. At that time Mr. Srikantha, son of Mylvaganam, was a student in Central College. I think it was in 1927, we observed Maha Sivarathri in the Hostel in the Holy presence of Swamigal. Swamigal and Navaratnam sat in meditation in the evening about 6pm. It was only the next day morning about 5 o’clock Swamigal came out of meditation and woke up Navaratnam from his meditation. The reason why I point-out this here is to illustrate how advanced was Navaratnam in his spiritual practice. §
The people of Jaffna expected that both Navaratnam and Mylvaganam will become the rightful heir of Swamigal. They requested Swamigal to establish an ashram. To this, Swamigal replied, “The four directions are the walls of my ashram and the sky is the roof.” Perhaps both of them were destined to go in different ways; and that could be the reason why the ashram was not established at that time. It is rare to find anybody like the two who had understood well about Swamigal. Navaratnam would have written the best book about Swamigal if he was alive then. Since he was no more, I requested many times our respected Mylvaganam to write the book on Swamigal. He told me that his memory had declined and his physical strength had weakened.§
However, a small book ‘Happiness’ written by Mylvaganam and his explanations of the Maha Vakkiyangal (great sayings) would be very useful to know further about Swamigal.§
Navaratnam wrote some essays on Advaita Vedanta in Sivathondan Magazine on the request of Yogaswami. Those articles were published as a book in 1995 as ‘Sivathondan’ Publication.§
Swamigal – Thiruvilangam
In 1920, another great man met Swamigal. He was advocate, Mr. Thiruvilangam, who had written extra-ordinary commentaries on Sivagnanasithiyar, Sivapragasam, Thiruppugal and Kandralangaram ( Saivite Literary works). In 1920, he became the Manager of Manippai Hindu College, and appointed Scholar Mylvagananar (Vipulanandar) as principal. It was through Mylvaganam that Thiruvilangam met Swamigal. §
On this Mylvagananar (Vipulananda Adigal) had written as follows : (Mr. Peethamparanar had helped me to write as Vipulananda Adigal had written) “Thiruvilangam is a great soul who had worshipped and meditated Lord Kumaran (Muruga) and got enlightenment. Thiruvilangkam had great yearning to meet noble souls. Knowing his deep interest, Mylvagananar took him to Columbuthurai to meet Yoga Swamigal, the Paramayogeswar (supreme God) of yoga. Their spiritual love for each other crossed beyond the borders of this world.§
From then on, the lodge of Mylvagananar at Manipay Hindu College turned into a scintillating divine spot. Whenever, Thiruvilangam returned from Colombo, Swamigal and teacher Navaliyoor Thambaiya would also go to the lodge. Throughout the night, they would sing Thirupugal so enchantingly that the listeners would be transported to the inner world of Lord Kumaran. MySlvaganannar who would be fully absorbed in the singing would go deeper and deeper into himself seeking more light of wisdom.Ӥ
Swamigal had commented that Thiruvilangam, by constantly pondering on the deeper meaning of the verses of the Saiva Literatures to which he was writing commentaries, got clarity and had turned himself into light. Swamigal said he was immersed in light, without his knowledge, when Thiruvilangam died in Colombo. This explains well the spiritual relationship that existed between them.§
Swamigal Seated on a Chair§