10th August, 2000 - Friday (Varalakshmi Nombu)

It was a visitor of a different kind. This dark little one had hopped on her two little feet and reached 'Premika Bhavanam' hall on the first floor. She had made herself comfortable beside the wooden cupboard in the hall. None but Smt.Kanchana Sankaran had noticed her, for, she had climbed the staircase alongwith her.

It was around 6.00 p.m. and Sri Swamigal was conducting 'Thirumanjanam' for Sri Srinivasa Perumal. The half-a-dozen devotees present were all keenly watching the 'Thirumanjanam', unaware of the new little visitor. 'Thirumanjanam' over, Sri Swamigal walked up to the cane chair placed near the window just across the hall and sat facing the entrance. It was then that this little dark visitor was first noticed by the devotees and there was a slight murmur, smile and surprise amongst them. Observing this, Sri Swamigal looked at His attendant Giri questioningly. Giri, too, had not noticed the little one for she was very quiet and collected!

One of the devotees, pointing to her, said to Sri Swamigal in an excited tone, "Inga Paarungo, Guruji!" (Look here, Guruji). Noticing the excitement that her presence was causing she had moved under the cupboard! Sri Swamigal, bent low and took a look at 'the devotee of a different kind'! A kindly smile lit up His face. Sri Swamigal, "Giri, (pointing to the'prasadam') prasadam konjam eduthu anga vaida" (place a little prasadam there)". Giri carried out the instruction. She ate a little of it. A little while later she came out of her hiding and with slow, sure steps walked across the hall taking a good look at all the other devotees. Moving towards the window near the tap she climbed over the wooden partition, placed in the northern corner of the hall, and jumping on to the other side sat a while near 'Mahaperiyaval's' rocking chair placed there with His picture on it.

Sri Swamigal's eyes kept following her movements. And so were the devotees'. After a while the little one jumped out and moved towards 'Perumal Sannidhi'. Giri wanted to stop her from getting into the 'sannidhi' but Sri Swamigal stopped him. "Sannidhikulla pottum vidu!" (Let her go inside the sanctum sanctorum). Finding a place beside the 'Divya Naama' Krishna she made herself comfortable there.

At Sri Swamigal's behest the ladies began singing. 'Bagyada Lakshmi Baarumma', then a few more songs before starting 'Radhikaashtakam'. Sri Swamigal sang alongwith them, now and then dictating something to Dr.Packianathan. The evening closed with dolotsavam around 9.15 p.m. and the 'sannidhi' doors closed. The little one remained within the precints of the 'sannidhi' overnight! - a privilege no other devotee has enjoyed!

11th August - Saturday

Sri Swamigal sat on the cane chair after the daily 'aarthi' and blessing the devotees with 'thirtha prasad'. Sri Swamigal, asked Smt.Kanchana Sankaran to sing,"Thulasi Devi..... She started singing one after another as bid by Sri Swamigal. 'Vaani namosthuthe, Dakshinyam kurume Dakshayani, Swaagatham swaagatham Seethe, Sundara Srinivasam, Azhaikinraan Kannan Srivaname Azhaikinraan, Seshgirim aham pranamami, Vira Simha, Varadarajam Bhaje. - Sri Swamigal's songs.

In the midst of this the overnight visitor suddenly appeared out of the 'sannidhi'. The little one coming out of the 'sannidhi' held on to the cane basket, kept just outside the sannidhi,with her two little feet and called out, "Caw! Caw!' in response to her mother's call. Sri Swamigal's eyes followed the mother crow who flew in with a little food in her beak and feed the baby crow, perched up on the cane basket. Sri Swamigal, "Giri, switch off the fan". When the mother crow flew out the little one went back to her place inside the 'sannidhi'. She stayed put there until after noon when her mother returned with some company and she joined them.