chuckles

 When I first met Balaperiyava in November of 2017, he received me with a certain enthusiasm. I was visiting the Mattum with a friend for the first time. Many of you by now know I get excess dreams and in many of those dreams, my boss, Lord Muruga, gives me assignments to complete. Between 2017-2019 I have traveled to many countries, climbed many international peaks, met mystical people, and gained preternatural experiences. One of Murugar's assignments is to visit the Kanchi Shankara Mattum. I grew up in Malleshwaram, Bangalore next to Shankara mattum. So I have seen my share of Pudhu Periyava and Balaperiyava. However, this is the first time I am visiting Kanchi Shankara Mattum.

It was around 11:20 AM when we visited the Mattum. Balaperiyava was doing his Nitya 'Chandra Moulishwarar" poojai. Devotees sat on the floor and kept chanting Vedic hymns and Balaperiyava on the dais. Right after he finished, devotees converged by the stage. This is when I realized I have not dressed appropriately for the occasion (I was in blue cotton chudidhar and my hair not tied) Bala Periyava must have taken only 2-3 steps by now. He stopped on his tracks and started scanning left to right with curious eyes as if he was looking for someone in the crowd. I was behind. As he was zooming his focus, he stopped at my directions. He gave a benevolent smile, lifted his right hand as if he acknowledges the presence. He smiled again and waved his hand. Madisar maamis in front of me gestured if it is they who he is looking for. His glance was fixed. He looked towards my direction waved his hand again and carried a smile. Something you should know about me; Despite having a big set of eyes, they don't really work well. On a hunch, I gestured if it is me who he is asking for. Bingo!! It was indeed me he was waving at. He smiled and started walking after whispering something in one of the helpmate's ears. The assistant came by and asked about my basic details, which I gave. He informed me to wait at Balaperiyava's office. Here's another thing about me; My brains don't work well when the spotlight is on me. So we ambled along visiting many shrines and also met Pudu Periyava took his blessings and reached the Bala Periyava's office late. We were the last ones to show up. As we stood by, Balaperiyava emerged from his room and looked at me with a smile, and asked "Where are you from!?"

"America."

"Okay, wait for me!" He said in a soft voice and went away.

He returns with his entourage after a while and goes back to his room. He sees one or two people. A young man walks up to me and ushers; "Neenga vango." I follow the assistant. As I walk past, I see an old couple, I see them in the corner of my eyes. A plateful of fruits and flowers were kept by their side. This is when I realize I need to bring something with me when visiting pontiffs. I notice the old lady in a blue-green silk saree, heavily built with glinting diamond earrings wincing in pain as she holds on to the pillar post. She could neither sit nor stand straight. Her husband standing behind her. The guilt pricks me.

We wait outside the room by the door. The young man goes inside and within a minute comes out.

" Ulla polaam," he says.

By then a young relative of the old maami asks the assistant; "When do we see him?"

"When periyavaa calls I will let you know," he said.

I walk into his room. Balaperiyava is sitting. We fall on his feet and pay our humble salutations. And we walk back and stand at the far corner of the room. He looks at me and my friend.

He smiles. "how did you come by? By car? Could you stay in Kanchi tonight? I like to meet you again tomorrow. But before that please have your lunch first. I will talk to you again in the evening." Beckons an assistant and says; "Make sure they have their lunch."

The assistant takes us into a special room and not to the dining hall. The inside of the room looked ancient. The interiors resembled a mud house. We sat down and we were served a lot of food. Paruppu vadai and Payasam, and everything were scrumptious. I ate to my stomach's content.

After cleaning our seats, we were back. We waited at the mandapam in front of his office. Balaperiyava was seeing others. In the meantime, I asked the cab driver to leave. I apologized to the driver and paid for the return fair as well.

The number of people waiting outside his office was thinning down. Finally, we are called in. He again looks at me and asks the friend to leave the room. Only three of us were inside; Balaperiya, Savitri maami (helpmate in her 70s), and Me.

He intently looks into my eyes for a few seconds. Then asks me in Tamil; "Do you want to be rich? Do you want farmlands and houses, money?"

"No. Money does not bring me happiness." I said assertively.

This question did not come as a surprise to me at all. The same question is often asked by many sages, saints, and even Thirupathi Balaji in my dreams. And a firm NO has always been my answer.

"Have you seen me before?" He asked me cheerfully.

"Yes, maama! When you were young. You used to visit this maami's house with other Pariyava."

Savithri maami interrupts and corrects me; "Not maama! He is periyavaa"

My brain does not register.

Embarrassed me; "Sorry... Maama"

Savitri Maami: Periyava!

Me: Seri Seri Periyava.

I apologize once again. Balaperiyava chuckles.

"Did you recognize who I am now? Do you realize?" He asked mystifyingly.

This is also not the first time a hermit asking me. During my visitation to Thiruvanamalai, some random saffron donned men would stop me and ask similar questions.

Me: I don't know, maama! I realized my mistake and bit my tongue...

Savitri Maami: He is a sanyasi devoid of all relationships. Call him Balaperiyava!

"Let her call whichever ways she likes! Do not interrupt her" He says smilingly to Savitri maami.

He was keener on what I had to say.

I shared my insane amount of dreams. My meeting with Kamakshi Swamigal and all the things he told me. He nodded his head in agreement.

He looked at Savitri maami and made a head gesture as if to pay attention to the part I am about to narrate.

He made me talk. I told him about conversations I have with sages, saints, and other divinities in the dreams. Somehow conversation veered to my personal life. My eyes welled up as I narrated them. After intently listening to me, he asked me one personal question point-blank. I was taken aback. I never shared that part of my life with him. He was not being judgemental about me. Although Savithri Maami was present in the room, it felt she was oblivious to what he is asking me. She is physically in the room, mentally somewhere else.

He smiled and said. I want to talk to you more. People are waiting for me. You meet me in the evening."

When I came out, the friend asked me, "did you cry a lot? Your face is smugged in your eye make-up!" I washed my face and went around seeing many temples in and around Kanchi Mattum. And returned in the evening around 6:00 PM

I met him again. He made me stay in the room. Many people came and went by. He was quiet or spoke one or two words. Then again back to being childlike enthusiastic self when the devotees left.

He asked me more questions.

I answered them and spoke some more.

To me, his questions were hinting of a past of not this era, either that or trying to make me see beyond this physical realm. A past where he is familiar with me and wanted to rekindle that familiarity in me too. But my Karmic debts weighed heavy on me and I failed to lift the curtain to see what he wanted to show me. I stood there in front of him like a deer caught in the headlight.

"Have dinner and meet me again." He beckoned an assistant who ushered us to the dining hall. After having our dinner I met him again.

"What I am about to teach you will have to be followed without any deviations. Agree?"

"You will follow through, right?"

"Yes, I will"

Then he taught me how to do Guru Poojai. And blessed me abundantly.

He said, "See, I know you're capable of fulfilling the following request on your own, but I want you to collect funds from others and perform this task. Buy Thirumangalyams (wedding pendants) for those fathers with daughters who have not given up their duties of promoting and preserving Vedas despite abject poverty. Remember, what You have to do?"

"Buy Mangalams to those who practice, promote, and preserve the Vedic lifestyle and Vedas," I repeat.

I thanked him and Savitri Maami. He instructed her to give her number. After exchanging numbers we left. It was 10:45 -11:00 PM when we left from Shankara Madam.

He taught me everything. Reminded me again the Guru poojai has to be done exactly how he instructed.

What followed after following through Guru Poojai is quite amazing. I will share it in my next post.