A Meera In The Modern Days-Smt.T R Kanakammal

Anecdotes

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 12:07

Would it be surprising to know a devotee merging with her Master on His Jayanthi (Birthday) while circumambulating His Samadhi, in His shrine, in this modern age?

Ramana was the only fascination in the life of Smt.Kanakammal. The doors of her senses were shut through deep discrimination and dispassion even at a very early stage, that her attention naturally and effortlessly centered on Bhagavan.

Kanakammal's paternal uncle Ramakrishna Iyer was the munsif of Thiruvannamalai, who was a devotee of Bhagavan Ramana. Her father was also a visitor of Ramanashram. Thus the path was set for Kanakammal to tread the Ramana way effortlessly.

Kanakammal recalls her first visit to Ramana when she was a girl of eight with one of her relatives, in her 'Cherished Memories', a compilation of heart warming recollections of Bhagavan Ramana during the years spent at His feet. She recalls the beatific smile of the master that remained ever-green in her memory. Each and every visit to her uncle would mean a definite visit to Ramanashram. She thus gradually got drawn to Ramana.

Kanakammal had decided to avoid marriage and devote her time for spiritual pursuits. But much to the persuasion of her parents, she had to given in. However marriage could hardly extinguish the fire of her spiritual yearning. Even after her marriage at the age of twelve or thirteen, she spent the wee hours of the mornings in deep meditation. Domestic life hardly mattered to her.

Kanakammal's father, Ranganatha Iyer, sensing the daughter's spiritual bend of mind, consented to her wish of staying at Thiruvannamalai. As a young woman she made her way to Thiruvannamali in 1946.

Kanakammal stayed in a small room, in Komutti Lakshmi Ammal's house. She lived the hard way with no running water or electricity. Big field rats were her constant visitors. Food was only to keep her alive and mattered nothing more. Even a dish that is meant to be very basic was a luxury. However all the difficulties seemed to vanish in an instant at the sight of the master like dew drops that disappear in sunlight. She spent the whole day in the presence of the master, only to return back to her humble dwelling at night fall. This way she basked in the glorious presence of the master.

Kanakammal records in 'Cherished Memories', “ In spite of all the difficulties and the frustrations of my domestic life, every morning my heart sprang at the thought of spending one more day in his presence, gazing at that enchanting form and listening to his electrifying words"

A humble person with great devotion for Bhagavan, she could not get her self to shoot her spiritual queries to Ramana. She says that the master's gracious gaze rendered her powerless and her queries disappeared the moment His look fell on her. On several such blessed occasions, her mind was effortlessly and spontaneously absorbed in the blissful awareness of the self. However she was every alert to the spiritual discussions that took place in the Master's presence and His advice to various seekers.

After the Master shedding His mortal coil, in 1950, Kanakammal exposed herself to the teachings of Bhagavan's works, impregnated with spiritual potency, which was explained to her by Muruganar.
This later led her to write “The Collected Works Of Ramana Maharshi" and “Cherished Memories" which is now a real treat to Ramana devotees who are eager to grasp the subtleties in the teachings of the Master.

Ramana was thus the centre of her life and activities. It is said that even at the later stages of her life, even after having elaborately written on the master's works, she still attended the “Uladhu Narpadhu" sessions like an eager amateur on the Ramana path.

On January 1, 2010, Kanakammal on attending the Jayanti celebrations of Ramana, went round the Samadhi of the Master thrice and simply merged with Bhagavan, shedding her mortal coil in the Master's presence at Ramanashram. Having absorbed the way of the Master, she was absorbed in the Master, purely by His Grace.

What needs more to explain devotion and Grace?

In this modern age Kanakammal, the embodiment of devotion and dedication is sure to remain in the hearts of the devotees of Ramana for ever as Meera still does in the hearts of Krishna's devotees!