"You will become rich man" - (By NDas)

When I was doing my Degree 2nd Year, one day I went to attend the usual sittings of Sri Nannagaru. I was surprised to see that there was only one devotee with whom Sri Nannagaru was chatting with. I sat very far being in my own world. By the time the devotee left it was very late. However the owner of the house where Sri Nannagaru stayed went out and didnot return back. So the doors were to kept open till they returned back.So I stayed back without much hesitation. Suddenly Sri Nannagaru called me near Him and asked me abt my percentages in the degree. He was very happy with my percentages in academics and asked me whether I stood first in my college? On saying Yes, He gave a very Big smile and said that I should try to stand first in the University. Then came out the words of His Blessings; He said: "You will become a very rich man." I was totally shocked on hearing these words. It was very natural for me to think that I will become rich in monetary terms.Now almost after 15yrs my father asked me whether I knew what is richness? When I replied in negative he read out a quotation in English:" Richness is neither saving more nor spending more nor earning more. But you are rich when you need no more."
Only today did I understand what Sri Nannagaru meant 15 years back. It took me 15 long years to understand the significance of his words. But better late than never....



Once on request of one of my friends, I accompanied him to Junnor. But the train reached late. By the time we reached Sri Nannagaru's house, Sri Nannagaru was about to take rest and therefore He asked us to come back at 3.00 in the afternoon.
I came back alongwith my friends to Sri Nannagaru at about 3.00 O clock .But Sri Nannagaru was seated in His tiny room seriously reading some book. He didnot notice our arrival. We waited for nearly 1 hour.I was very inquisitive as to what he was reading about? However I felt He was not reading something but he was looking at something very intently. Finally He came out and gave me the book and spoke in a very stern voice, " You must read this book". I took the book but was least interested in reading the same as I hardly have any reading habits. However I tried my best to read the book just to abide by Sri Nannagaru's order. But neither did I find anything interesting in the book nor could I digest whatever I read. I really wondered why Sri Nannagaru gave me this book. But still I felt I was missing out something in the book which Sri Nannagaru wanted me to gain. Gradually I forgot abt the book. Then one fine day came when it was 1st September, the day of Bhagawan Sri Ramana's advent to Arunachala.I was involved as usual in my routine and remembered only in the night that it was 1st September. I took out the book that Sri Nannagaru gave me but didnot feel like reading the same. Suddenly I came across a beautiful photograph of Sri Bhagawan. The mere sight of the photo made me deeply blissful. Then it stuck me suddenly this was what Sri Nannagaru was looking at for nearly 1 hour in his room in Junnor before he gave me the book. I then understood why Sri Nannagaru gave me this book: Just to make me understand that " Truth is Simple(Bhagwan's foto) and Mind is Complex(the contents in the book)". ...

"Guru chooses us" - (By NDas)

I met Sri Nannagaru for the first time in my teenage.But as Nannagaru says'Teenage is the worst age';A sudden struggle started in my life, perphaps it was hormonal imbalance which is very common in that age. I visited various mahatmas and Ramakrishna math to seek solace but didnot get the required peace.I didnot share my state of mind with anyone at home. One day my mother said that a mahatma who is a devotee of Bhagawan Ramana is going to visit a nearby house.I asked her the name of the Mahatma. She replied as Nannagaru. I was expecting the name to end with some ananda but was surprised and infact also laughed within myself hearing such name.However the name Bhagawan Ramana aroused interest in me to see this mahatma. I never read about Bhagawan Ramana but I remember my mother showing me his photo in my childhood and so I had great reverence for him unknowingly.Finally we reached the house and waited in a room filled with few people for nearly half an hour.



Nannagaru came out of his room and sat in a sofa.I did not feel anything special about him. He was looking very very simple. As I already visited few mahatmas perphaps swamijis, I expected a similar kind of thing here but it wasnt the same for much of my disappointment. After 5 minutes, he started drinking coffee. I felt I am wasting my time. But suddenly a deep silence overcame me which I never experienced before. I could feel a very great inner peace indescribable in words for which I have been struggling throughout.Then Nannagaru chatted with people around asking them about their sadhana. I remember one devotee asking a question about Sri Ramakrishna. I dont remember the question exactly but I remember Nannagaru answering " Even Ramakrishna attained the same Self(pointing to the right side of His chest). This was a stunning reply for me.



I used to feel Ramakrishna paramahamsa is my guru and there can be none on this earth equivalent to him. But this reply of Nannagaru surprised me.Somehow after spending nearly 2 hrs, the time has come to depart.I wasnot bold enough to introduce myself. Also I didnt feel the need to talk with Nannagaru.But somehow I felt that I should prostrate to Him.Many people were prostrating and taking leave of Him. He was Blessing them in chinmudra of Dakshinamurhty with one hand(even this surprised me as I rarely saw any mahatma blessing so vividly till then). He was not looking at me when I wanted to prostrate.I mentally prayed to Him thus:"I may not deserve salvation but atleast I must get rid of my lust in this very birth".



Praying thus I prostrated to Him not expecting Him to look at me. But when I got up, to my wonder of wonders, I saw Him Blessing me with Both the Hands(placing his both the hands on his chest and again Blessing in chinmudra); Perphaps an indication that I belonged to Him and I neednot worry.This was my first experience.
I heard a lot about the importance of having a Guru and getting initiated by the guru in the Ramakrishna Math.

So I felt I should get initiated in the RK Math. One day I approached the RK math and asked for initiation.



I was shown a list of conditions to be fulfilled to get initiated there.It included reading few books of Sri Ramakrishna. I told them that I started reading but could not complete the book. They replied me that I can complete the book and come back for getting initiated.I felt very sad. I had enough faith to get initiated but still they were pressing for book reading. I had three choices for Guru then: Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Math, Swami Chidananda of Divine Life Society and Sri Nannagaru. I felt all the three were equally great. But I felt as Nannagaru was most accessible I should get initiated by Him.But I get laughter when I think of this now.It is the Guru who chooses us and not we who choose the Guru.Some how I made my decision to ask Nannagaru for initiation. I had great faith that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is a Divine Incarnation. Those words of Sri Ramakrishna," The One who is SriRama and the One who is SriKrishna, not as per your advaita, He is this Ramakrishna" built up this faith in me. Oneday I asked Nannagaru for initiation. He gave a big smile (divine smile) and asked me," who is your favourite God?" I replied Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa but requested Him to give that which is good for me. Then to my wonder of wonders, Nannagaru repeated the same words,"Sri Ramakrishna used to say, the One who is SriRama and the One who is SriKrishna, not as per your advaita, He is this Ramakrishna."Nannagaru asked me to do SriKrishna mantra which ofcourse I did for a day or two only. But however this initiation concluded my quest for the Guru.

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Thank you for your inspiring experience. It is so true that Guru chooses his devotees, rather than the opposite. He just waits for the right time to ripen for the interaction and initiation.

"Nanna's Gracious Love" - (By NDas)

It was Guru poornima perphaps for the first time that I attended in Junnor.
As usual after the speech was delivered Nannagaru went to Chinchinada.
I knew no one in Chinchinada. Somehow one of the devotees promised me accomodation and so I accompanied him to Chinchinada. I silently spent 2 days there. And the time came for my departure. I was naturally sad about it.



Nannagaru blessed us as he usually does by moving his hands in the chinmudra of the Dakshinamurthy.We came out of the house and were waiting for the car.But still Nannagaru was visible to us and we were visible to Nannagaru.

Suddenly Nannagaru looked at us and raised one of his Hands.I was overwhelmed at that flow of Grace and did a pranam with one hand keeping it on my chest.


After a moment, He raised both the hands. He was still like a rock with both the hands raised.

This time I couldnt bear that Grace and had to make pranams with both the hands.

After such a delightful darshan I had to get into the car.I hardly ever cried for God. But this time I couldnot stop sobbing.

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Thank you for sharing this with us. When it comes to his grace, tears roll down unknowingly.

"Nanna is everywhere" - (By NDas)

It was the first time that I visited Kasi. I had a rare opportunity of being accompanied by my Guru(Nanna garu) and my parents.We stayed in a hotel which was 10 mts walk from the place where Sri Nanna stayed. We heard that Nanna will be going out but the place he would be visiting was kept as a top secret.However we had an information that Nanna would be visiting the sankata mochana temple. Hearing this a huge crowd of devotees already left to that place and kept waiting for Nanna. My Father was pressing us that we will go out for sightseeing. But as usual I was being dragged towards Nanna. However I didnt want to disappoint my Material father in the name of my Spiritual Father.So I gave up and said to the Lord Visveshwara 'Let thy will be done'. We hired an auto and were advised by the autodriver that we first visit the Kala Bhairava temple. I consented for this. However my Heart was at Sankatamochana temple. We did accordingly and as we turned back from the temple, to our greatest astonishment, we were facing Nanna in front of us.He had a very grave composure,glowing with serenity and approached us majestically.We were standing aside giving him the way to enter the temple premises.He stopped beside us and Blessed my Father by touching his cheeks and entered the temple very quietly. We felt Blessed at this unexpected darshan and Blessings from Nanna garu. But the saddest part for me was that as Nanna was entering the temple we had to leave the temple.Many devotees were rushing towards Kala Bhairava temple on coming to know that Nanna was visitng the same. Few of them enquired as to the whereabouts of Nanna and few of them were shouting at me that Nanna is in Kalabhairava temple. But I had no other choice but to accompany my parents. It was a kind of mixed feelings for me. I didnt understand whether to be happy with the unexpected darshan OR be sad for not accompanying Nanna into the temple. The Only thing I understood was nothing is in my hands,Whether it can be called as God's will OR as Destiny.Leaving behind Nanna we visited Sarnath,Bharath Mata temple, Sankatmochan temple etc.,Finally we went back to the hotel at about 6.30pm in the evening.I knew that it wld not serve the purpose even if I rush to Nanna. Somehow I felt being dragged from within and ran towards Nanna's place. By the time I reached there, Nanna was sitting in a very deep silence. I was able to see only the feet of Nannagaru as many devotees were in our midst.Suddenly a deep silence overcame me in His presence and I experienced a very deep ecstasy inexpressible in words.This experience has put aside all my regrets of missing Nanna garu and totally rejuvenated me. I felt I would not have experienced this if I had been with Nanna throughout the day. Nanna took leave from us very shortly.While returning back to my hotel room, one of the devotees told me that most of the devotees waited for Sri Nanna in the sankatmochan temple but had to return disappointed as Nanna never visited the temple.When she explained me how they chased and traced Nannagaru and about how they spent the time with Him, I again felt sad of missing out the day with Him losing all the Bliss and ecstasy experienced in His presence till now.



When I ponder back and rethink of the situation I feel I have been very foolish in my thinking. Had I not accompanied my parents and Had i not surrendered myself to the Lord's will, Perphaps I would have been in sankatmochan temple waiting for Nanna through out the day. Naturally we wouldnt have got the darshan at the Kala bhairava temple.And also the Bliss that I experienced was a result of the longing due to separation thru out the day.I wouldnt have had this if I were with Nanna through out the day. So the following were my lessons:

1)Nanna knows what is best for me.
2)Abidance by God's will leads to oneness perphaps much faster than devotion.Surrender is greater than Devotion.
3)True Devotion leads to True Suurender which in turn leads to Oneness.
4) Man is not where his body is; Man is where his Mind is.
5)Limiting Nanna to a Body is a CRIME.
6)Do never imitate others.
7)Everything happens in its own time.



I shared this experience with my sister who could not visit Kasi. She felt consoled. Hope this experience would console all the devotees who thrive for Nanna's presence but cant attain the same.

Perphaps I can take an Instance of Bhagwan here. Rangan,a very intimate devotee of Bhagwan in his deep longing to see Bhagwan gets down from a running train and gets hurt. On being asked by Bhagwan he narrates as to why and how he gets hurt.
Listening to the same Bhagwan says,'Rangan seeing me is not important. Longing to see me is important.'



To take one more Instance:

The Gopi's Love for Krishna is considered to be the Highest form of Love.
After Lord Krishna left Brindavan, He never came back to see the Gopis. The Brindavan was just few miles away from Mathura.Still He never came back.There was a strong reason for this.After Krishna left Brindavan, His entire life was involved with the Politics involving kings and kingdoms.The Gopis adored Krishna as Gopala which made up their pure Love for Him.And Krishna never wanted the Gopis to lose their Gopala.

Had Krishna come back to Brindavan, The Gopi's impression about Krishna would have changed. They would have viewed Him as a King maker, Political leader, warrior etc., etc., and all their pure Love for Krishna would have been lost.Krishna never came back only for the welfare of the Gopis.Whether the Gopis knew or not as to why Krishna didnot come back to them, they accepted this gracefully without questioning Him.True devotion leads to Surrender and True Surrender leads to Oneness.It was only because Krishna never came back the Gopi's Love became eternal Otherwise this would have turned into an attachment only.Therefore whatever the Lord does is always for our Good and accepting the same will make us eternal.

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This experience consoles everybody who feel that they are far away from Nanna, and also to those who think they are unable to accompany him. Limiting Guru to a body is absolutely crime, and this revealed practically through your words. He exists everywhere and in our hearts!Thank you for sharing this consoling experience.