"Nannagaru's Love is Divine" - (By Hima Bindu)

I heard the name ‘Sri Nannagaru’ for the first time on 4.10.1991 from a friend of mine. I’ve heard the names of this swami..that swami..but this name..Sri Nannagaru..meaning Respected Father!!How different and special! I thought. A month later, I happened to hear Bhagavan’s biography. I loved the song ‘ Arunachala Siva’. I used to ask God for favors and boons. In return I would think of offering coconuts in the temple, or climb the seven hills of Tirupati and so on. The first book I read was ‘Sri Nanna Uvacha’, from which the sentence, “Are you trying some kind of barter or trade with God?” made me feel ashamed of my deeds. “If you are unable to understand my words, the mistake is mine”, this sentence baffled me. His words are as different as his Name, I thought. I had been a very cowardly person since childhood. But the sentence, ‘Whatever is destined will happen for sure’ emboldened me and totally replaced my cowardice.

On 9th January 1992, I was told that Sri Nannagaru would visit my home. Right from dawn, I made flower garlands, cleaned and decorated the puja room and arranged colorful lights along the path He would walk down. Nannagaru came to my house at 4.30pm. Shyamala aunty introduced me to Nannagaru for the first time. I spent three days in Nannagaru’s presence. I had no idea about the subject he teaches. He spoke to me like a well wisher would do. But those 3 days, all I wanted to do was to sit by his side and keep looking at him, and nothing else. I was filled with an inexpressible happiness and joy. Never before had I experienced this kind of joy. That was clear. The second he left our house, I was filled with lot of discontentment, a feeling of incompleteness. I felt I needed to share my feelings with someone. Else, what we would become of me? I feared. Immediately I started writing a diary and called it ‘Gurudevobhava’. Who would be a better friend to share than my own mind, I felt. At a stage when I didn’t even fully understand the meaning of the word ‘Guru’, I named my diary ‘Gurudevobhava’. I have carefully recorded and stored details of every second I spent with beloved Father.

More than the speeches themselves, I seem to have had more instructions from experiences of daily life at home. “That which existed yesterday and does not exist today cannot be the Truth. Truth is that which remains unchanged yesterday, today or tomorrow.” Sri Nannagaru told us. Yes. I have tasted that truth. And that is Sri Nannagaru’s Love for us. The love He showered the very first time I met him, is the same as that he showers today. That which didn’t change yesterday, today or tomorrow is Nannagaru’s love. That love is divine.

Slowly, Sri Nannagaru became the most important aspect of my life. My beloved Father is with me. And I can achieve anything with his guidance. I developed that sort of faith. Every day, I would sit in front of His photo, and share all the experiences of happiness, sorrow, in fact every feeling with him. I always felt that He was there, and it was not a mere picture. When in sorrow, I always received mesmerizing teaching that would simply wipe away my grief. I used to discuss my problems with him. And I would receive specific and special answers from Him every time. But sometimes I wondered if all this was really true, or was it my mind playing tricks. But when Sri Nannagaru visited Vizag on 7.8.1996, he told me, “ Bindu my child, I do receive your words”. This banished all doubts from my mind.

Not just serving the essence of all the great books like Upanishads, Vedas, Bhagavadgita or Bible without having to read them, Nannagaru imparted practical spirituality applicable in everyday life. All the answer to problems we face in everyday life is in Nannagaru’s speeches. Through every word and action of His, Sri Nannagaru has led an exemplary life of spirituality in everyday life. Sri Nannagaru is the great teacher who implores us to render every responsibility of a house holder in the most appropriate way and without any kind of carelessness, while seeking the spiritual life leading to God.

For those who thought sadhana meant waking early in the morning, spending hours in puja, japa or meditation and then live as they want during the rest of the day, Sri Nannagaru taught that sadhana is that which is done every second of our lives. Sadhana is living every second the way God told us to. Sri Nannagaru is the great master who taught us how to lead a life as sadhana rather than doing sadhana in life.

Once, we all sat around Him, the whole day. A lot of devotees had brought sweets and fruits to offer to Him. “Bindu my child! What are these called?” He asked me. I didn’t reply. He asked me the same question four times! And then He himself gave the answer, “These are called ‘offerings’” and placed some of those sweets in my palms. “And these are called prasadam”, I felt. After reaching home, I kept thinking…if He has asked so many times, it must have a deeper meaning…what it is my Father!!

“Whatever you wish to give me is your offering. I will accept your offering, purify it and return it to you as prasadam. Some day, when you give me your ego, I will purify it and give it back to you as SELF. I am waiting for that.” I felt he was saying so. “Forgive me Beloved Father; I don’t even understand enough about this ego, let alone being able to place it as offering.
But my mind with its huge troublesome thoughts is something I know. Though I cannot offer the whole mind to you, I think I can offer a part of it. Please purify it and give me back. Then the purity of what you have given will burn away the impurities in the rest of the mind. And my mind will be totally pure. Wouldn’t it be easier to follow your path with a pure mind?” I thought.

I never felt Sri Nannagaru lives in Jinnuru alone. Everytime I called him “Father” or remembered Him as “Oh my Guru”, he replied back to me and was with me. This is my experience. If you gave a chocolate and some gold ornament to a child, the child would definitely choose the chocolate. Because the child is aware of the happiness it gets from the chocolate and has no idea about the value of gold. Similarly my Father, I have no idea about the value of moksha and the peace it brings. In my experience is the bliss that I get from the love that my Father bestows. I know the peace and bliss I experience when my mind is full of Him. I know the taste of that. Hence, I would ask of you, my Father, to completely fill my mind, without any space for a single bad thought. To live as you have asked us to and to offer my little life as GuruDakshina is what I would wish.

Oh My Guru!! If it is Brahmadeva who created the world, then you are my Brahmadeva for having created this spiritual interest in me, If it is Vishnu who maintains the world, then you are my Vishnu for having maintained my spiritual seeking on the right path, if it is Shiva who causes destruction of the world, then you are my Shiva for destroying the ego in me.
You are the meaning of the sentence “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara”.

“Oh Father, who is The Trinity in human form, Please grant me unshakable faith to believe that you would stand as my everything, the boon that you would fill my heart with yourself, and the good fortune to have a heart that beats only for you.”

Present is on, Future is ours - (By Hima Bindu)

Prarabdha is the fruit of our past actions. It is something earned by our past work, our hard work and we have to experience it (enjoy it) wholly by our self. God’s constitution does not permit us to share it with anyone or escape it.Right from the first breath to the last breath in this body every moment is pre-planned, predetermined and pre-decided with respect to our body according to our destiny. So the present is on……but God has given us a wonderful boon of writing our own future. Present time is a white paper and our actions a pen which are going to rule our future in the form of prarabdha so, let us fill our present with divine thoughts,lovable words and the best actions possible which can make our guru feel proud of us.So,let us write our own future.

"Happy Birthday to Sri Nannagaru" - (By Hima Bindu)

Even though today is the birthday of Sri Nannagaru, all of us should wish each other as Many Many Happy returns of the day. It is because even though Nannagaru may not require this day, everyone of us are in need of the same.

Today is Nannagaru's birthday. My Father being the birthday child, I wish I could become His Mother to Love him, feed him and lull Him to sleep. I would like to convey my heartful regards to that Rajayamma garu who has been so lucky to get these opportunities. GOD is formless. In whatever form we adore Him, He will bestow His Grace upon us accordingly. Isnt it so?

Oh! Nannagaru, when you can become my Father, Can't you become my child too? Everyone pity me saying I have only two daughters.They say that the daughters leave me after their marriage and had it been sons, they would support me through out my life till death and also protect me from hell after death. But today I feel pity for them. They dont know that I have a son. How many sons are supporting their parents these days? If the parents stay here, their sons are living in America. But my son is not like that. They donot know that my son is capable enough to support me
through out my life till death. He would not only protect me from hell but also from the vicious circle of birth and death. My son is rich by birth. How much ever one may rob him, his assets will never deplete. I would like to tell everyone of how much care he takes of his mother. Preaching as a Guru, Loving as a Mother, Helping as a Father, Supporting as a child, Advising as a dearest friend, in whatever form
we adore Him, Nannagaru bestows His Grace accordingly because GOD is formless and in whatever form we adore Him, He would give His darshan(vision) accordingly.

Oh! Nannagaru, Do Bless me with the unflinching faith that you would become my Father, child and everything to support me through out my life; Do Bless me with the boon that my mind is completely filled with your thought and favour me with the luck that this Heart beats only for you.

Love you Nannagaru. I want to more and more Love you .

"Guru devobava" - (By Hima)

I heard the name of Sri Nannagaru first time on Oct 4th 1991 through a friend. I heard of many swamiji’s, but the name of Nannagaru felt very special to me. After 1 month, I heard of Bhagawan’s life history. I liked the Arunachala siva song most. The first book I read of is “Sri Nannavu vacha”. For the person like me who had perceptions as, upon my wishes fulfilled, I would climb steps of tirupati or break the coconut, had left me awestuck with the words in this book which said – “Are you trading with God?” I felt shy of myself. Also the words - “If you are not able to understand my subject it is the fault of mine and not fault of yours” were just different like his name. I was not daring from childhood but the words which said “What will happen, will happen, but what will happen will not happen” have removed my fear and rejuvenated in me with courage.


I knew that Nannagaru was going to visit my home on Jan 9th 1992. Early in the morning, I cleaned my home very neatly and decorated with lights on the way where Sri Nannagaru is expected to come. At evening 4 PM Sri Nannagaru has arrived, Shyamala aunty has introduced me to Sri Nannagaru. I spent 3 days with my Sri Nannagaru. I don’t know anything about the subject. He used to talk to me as a well wisher. All the three days just flew away, I had zeal to spend every second with him, and to sit along with him, which was unknown happiness, but one thing that I understood is I haven’t had this feeling any time before. The moment he left from my home I had a longing for him, and felt something was missed. I wanted to share these feelings with someone else otherwise I used to feel like I am lost, so immediately I started writing in a book naming it as ‘Guru devobava’. Every second that I spent with my father I stored that memory preciously in my heart.



Apart from speeches of Sri Nannagaru, the experiences that he has given to me at home are much more valuable. The thing that which is present yesterday and absent today is not true, the thing which exists yesterday, today and tomorrow is itself truth. Yes, I am living this truth which is love of Sri Nannagaru. The love that he showered for first time is the same love that he showers till date; there is no difference in his love. The love which exists same as yesterday, today and tomorrow is Nannagaru’s love, that love is precious (apurvam)

Slowly Nannagaru has become the main family member in my life. I have my father, with my father’s words (upadesam) I felt I can achieve anything that is impossible. Everyday I used to sit before Nannagaru’s photo and used to share all my sad and happy feelings with him, as I continued to see him, I visualized my father rather than a photo. He vanished all my sorrow with his immense teachings. I always used to discuss my problems wit him, for every problem I used to get a unique solution from him. But once I had a feeling whether all this is true? But on 7/8/96 when nannagaru came to vizag

He said – “ I am receiving your words”

By saying so he removed all my doubts.

Without necessary of reading Vedas, Upanishadasa, Bhagawad Gita, he explained the extracted meaning from those books and also our father made us experience all his teachings. In our day to day life, for every incident and for very problem Nannagaru’s teachings have become the solution. He has set an exemplary for all of us through his words and deedes. By being a household person without neglecting any activities, and showing us the path to reach God, such an extraordinary person is Sri Nannagaru.



Sri Nannagaru has completely transformed our perception like sadhana as getting early in the morning, taking bath and praying to God for an hour and then trying to be as usual along the day, he defined the new way of sadhana – “Every day every minute can be used for the sadhana and sadhana means thinking about GOD, and sadhana is not the thing to do in life but it is living with sadhana”

One day we all were surrounded around nannagaru. Everyone was offering sweets and fruits to nannagaru

Suddenly Nannagaru asked me – “Amma, Bindu what are these called?”

I dint respond. Later he said these are called offerings, and then he took fruits on the table and handed it to my hands. I felt these are called as prasadam. Upon reaching home, I felt there was some inner meaning on fathers words because he repeated the same for so long time. I started thinking what is the meaning father? Then I got an answer

“Whatever the offerings that you offer, I will transform and will revert you back in the form of prasadam. I am waiting for your offerings of “I” so that I can give you the purified and transformed I into self”.

I responded as – “Please excuse us Nannagaru, I dint get clear understanding on I itself. I don’t deserve to realize the self, but what I know and what I experience is the mind. There are so many obstacles in my mind, hence if not complete, atleast some part I can offer to you. Please revert back the some part offered as prasadam, so that this will help in removing the other unpurified part of the mind. Thereby my mind transforms into a purified mind, it will be easy to walk in your path Sri Nannagaru”



I never felt like, Sri Nannagaru lives only in Jinnuru. Whenever I called him as Father! And whenever I chanted as ‘Gurudeva’ everyday, I got a response from him. He was with me, and also he spent time with me, this is my experience. If chocolate or gold is offered to a kid, the kid chooses chocolate because the kid knows the taste of chocolate and doesn’t know the value of God. Similarly if I was offered Moksham I don’t know how it is and wat it is? What I know is the love of my father. Since I know the taste of happiness when my mind is completely filled with love of Nannagaru I would rather choose the love of Nannagaru than self realization. Without leaving a bad thought in my mind, my mind should be entirely filled with my father. I have the goal of living as Nannagaru instructed, and to offer my self as guru dakshina to Nannagaru.

GuruDeva!

If Brahma has given birth to this world, but you the form of Brahma are the one who has sown this seed, and given birth of spirituality into my life.

If this world is driven by Vishnu but you are the form of Vishnu who is driving us to lead a proper life.

If Shiva was the rhythm of the world, you the form of Shiva are making my heart to be in rhythm.

You are the meaning of Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru devo Maheswaraha.

You are the trimurti swarupa.

Please provide me the faith of you is everything, fill up my mind with yourself, thereby my heart only beats for you.

"Offer thyself to him" - (By Hima)

AUM NAMO BHAGAVATE SRI NANNAYA




Once I was sitting right in front of Nannagaru holding fruits in my hands. I was waiting for the opportunity to offer the fruits, after he finishes the speech.

As soon as Nannagaru finished his speech he bent forward and laid his hands in front of me, as if asking for the fruits.

Immediately I passed the fruits onto Nannagaru’s hands, then

He asked me – “what are these called?”

I just kept quite as everyone could see that they are bananas.

Nannagaru said –”These are called offerings”.

He took them and closed his eyes for few seconds and then opened his eyes and said –

“You take these fruits to home, children will eat. “

H was about to give them. I laid my hands forward to take them, then he again asked me “what are these called “? I was silently looking into his eyes.

He repeated the question again.

I felt Nannagaru was trying to convey something else to me and my heart was dying to know what it was as I continued to stare into his eyes.

After few seconds he said –
”This is called prasadam”.



I felt Nannagaru was trying to convey that "He is ready to accept anything that I offer, and he will turn it into prasadam and give it back to me, and in this case let it be my mind."

All the way back home I was thinking why I am not able to give a little place to my Guru in my heart so that he could turn it pure and make it into prasadam or like a butter, that butter which lord Krishna loves to eat. I tried to find out the reason and I came to know that my heart is already filled up with so many people, and then I started to beg and fight with my mind to give a little place to my Guru.



I tried to formulate this battle in the form of a poem.

















When we go to Nannagaru, some of us may offer bananas, some may offer apples and others sweets. Whatever they are, once they go into the hands of our Guru they are turned into prasadam that’s the greatness of a guru.

I wish there would definitely come a day in the life of every devotee when he or she could completely offer (surrender) his or her heart to the Guru.

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Thank you for the beautiful poem and sharing your inner thoughts with us. Your words are inspiring and very near to practicality. It is true that we need to make friendship with mind, and educate with goodness.