Bharatham : Uthishtatha-Jagratha : (wef-05/11/2012. )

59. When H.H. the Dowager Maharani of Mysore visited the Ashram in 1949, the inmates brought chairs and benches, and placed them outside the Diamond Jubilee Hall, but the austere Maharani said that she preferred to sit on the bare ground. As soon as she said that, the Master stooped down and removed the stones and pebbles on the terrace, making room for Her Highness to sit. The Maharani began to protest, "Swamiji, you should not trouble yourself to do all this." Quick came the Master’s reply, "No, no, please do not stand on formalities. ‘Ghar ka ladka—I am your own son’!" "What is my duty?" was the question the Master asked himself constantly, not "what will others think?" Sri N. Ananthanarayanan  To be continued ...

58. Once, the car in which the Master was travelling came to a halt on a trunk road. It was night time and the driver required a light to see what was wrong with the vehicle. The Master immediately opened his bag and pulled out matchbox and candle. The Master delighted in doing personal service. If anybody came to him in the hot sun, he often fanned him and gave him some refreshing drink. Sometimes he hastened to hold the umbrella over the head of a sick or aged person. At other times he hurried to untie the bootlaces of stout or aged people, when they found it difficult to bend down. To him no service was menial; all was sacred. Sri N. Ananthanarayanan  To be continued ...

57. The Master was ever on the watch for opportunities to serve. Even small instances stood witness to this eagerness to serve. One night in the Ashram Satsang, a child stood up from its mother’s lap and started toddling towards the male group. The Master at once guessed the child’s intent, and flashed his torch in such a way that the child could spot its father easily. By virtue of his long medical experience, the Master was sometimes able to notice in visitors lurking diseases of which they themselves had no inkling. His timely advice saved many from future trouble. The Master’s watchword with regard to selfless service was that service should seek the needy person. Thus, during the Sankirtan tours in North India, at the end of the day’s programme, he invariably announced from the platform, that all those needing medical attention were welcome to avail themselves of his free services. Since his Swarg Ashram days it was a habit with the Master to carry three bags wherever...

56. The Master was ever on the watch for opportunities to serve. Even small instances stood witness to this eagerness to serve. One night in the Ashram Satsang, a child stood up from its mother’s lap and started toddling towards the male group. The Master at once guessed the child’s intent, and flashed his torch in such a way that the child could spot its father easily. By virtue of his long medical experience, the Master was sometimes able to notice in visitors lurking diseases of which they themselves had no inkling. His timely advice saved many from future trouble. The Master’s watchword with regard to selfless service was that service should seek the needy person. Thus, during the Sankirtan tours in North India, at the end of the day’s programme, he invariably announced from the platform, that all those needing medical attention were welcome to avail themselves of his free services. Sri N. Ananthanarayanan  To be continued ...