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“Today there are ever so many fake swamis. Is it not possible to identify and ostracize them?”

“Once Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswati Swami of Kanchi Mutt (Sri Periyava) had camped in North India. The then Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi, came to have His darshan.

The Prime Minister of India placed a similar question in front of Sri Periyava, “If you would pinpoint the persons who, in the name of spirituality, lead the people in a wrong way I will take action against them.” Sri Periyava laughed and said, “No! It should not be handled in this manner. Those who approach such fake swamis will themselves, after a time, understand their standard of maturity.”

Sri Periyava knew that this reply did not satisfy Smt. Indira Gandhi. Someone had offered a basket full of mangoes to Periyava. It contained many unripe and a few ripe fruits. Many devotees waited outside for Sri Periyava’s darshan. Sri Periyava instructed the attendants to bring a child from amongst these devotees. A child of about 5 years was brought to Him. Pointing to the basket Periyava smilingly said to the child, “Take whatever you want.” After a search the child picked up a ripe fruit.

Sri Periyava pointed out to Smt.Indira Gandhi who was watching this, “Just as the way a child knows what is ripe and what is unripe, so too would those who go out in search of Truth recognize a true Mahan at some point of their life.”

Ãdi Sankara, a great Vedanti, has sung ‘phala stuti’ (the fruit reaped by chanting) at the end of His stotras underlining the worldly benefit (earning wealth, end of poverty, etc.) that would be attained. What is the reason for this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Ignorance is verily poverty and Jnana (Knowledge) the real wealth. Therefore, one reaps the benefit in doing parayana of the slokas in accordance with one’s desire.”

“Our Shastras say that a Brahmachari (unmarried & celibate - first of the four stages of life prescribed by the Shastras) should hold the stick of ‘palãsa’ tree. What is the reason behind this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Once the devas were sitting under a ‘palãsa’ tree and discussing the glory of Gayatri Mantra. This tree heard them speak of the Gayatri mantra formed in three ‘pãdãs’ and began to grow three leaves at a time. The wonder struck devas named the tree as ‘susravas’ that means ‘a tree with the best hearing ability’. This matter is mentioned in the Vedas as “Devãvai brahmannavadanta tatparna upãsrunnot susravãvai namh” A brahmachari ‘vidyãrthi’ (student) who seeks a Guru in Gurukula to learn the Vedas should grasp the teachings of the Guru as well as the ‘palãsa tree’. This is the reason that ‘palãsa danda’ (stick) is given to him. Moreover, the grasping ability of one who holds this ‘palãsa’ stick in his hand increases.”

“While looking into the mirror I find that my face has lost the ‘tejas’ (divine lustre born out of spiritual austerities) that it had earlier. What could be the reason for this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“In Srimad Bhagavatam while speaking to king Bali, Vãmana Bhagavãn says, “The tejas of the Brahmin who conducts his life happily with whatever is obtained grows.” One should take note of the word ‘grows’. Vãmana Bhagavan does not say that the tejas ‘remains’ but uses the word ‘grows’. Earning to acquire more than one’s need and avarice reduce one’s ‘tejas’.”

“Recently I had been to an ‘upanyãs’ (discourse). The man on the stage spoke on Kanchi Sri Maha Periyava. At the end of the ‘upanyas’ I met and asked him if he had lived with Kanchi Periyava. He said, “No! I have had a few darshan of Him.” I wondered, ‘How can he speak about Periyava if he has not lived with Him?’ Am I not right in wondering so?”

Sri Swamiji:

“We speak of the lives of Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Ãzhwãrs, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Ramana Maharishi and innumerable Bhaktãs. Is it right to say that one can speak of them only if he/she had lived with them? Speaking of Mahans is a sadhana in itself. This itself will lead to ‘chitta shuddhi’ (cleansing the mind). But, one should speak with proper proofs. One should speak with proper ‘grantãs’ as the base.”

“I hold the goal of serving others selflessly. Even so many oppose me. Many create problems for me. What is the reason for this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“How do we react when someone comes up to us and speaks ill about somebody? We do not question them, ‘Why do you speak all these to me?’ instead we enjoy listening to it! Don’t we? In fact we join hands with them and criticize that person. In the same manner others enjoy criticizing us/our actions.

Generally speaking, behaviour of people is not predictable. They will not be grateful to you even if you do good to them. They will not praise you; they will not be affectionate towards you; they will not cooperate with you. Instead they abuse you; oppose you; speak ill about you; create problems for you; imagine some selfish motive behind your action. If you truly desire to serve you have to bear with all these.”

“In the villages of Tamizhnadu every pond has a peepul tree on its bank. What is the reason behind this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“The Shastras say that bathing in the pond where the shadow of the peepul tree falls accrues good merits (‘punya’). It is with this knowledge that our ancestors had planted peepul tree on the banks of every village pond.”

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