His Holiness Sri Muralidhara Swamiji on NATIONAL INTEGRATION Sri Swamiji has been rendering ‘Upanyãs’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here. There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãs’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji,

"HARE RÃMA HARE RÃMA RÃMA RÃMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"

“Prahlada, Narada, Parasara, Pundarika, Vyãsãmbareesha, sukha, sounaka, Bhishmadãbyam, Rukmãngada, Arjuna, Vasishta, Vibhishanãdim, punya parama Bhãgavatãm smarãmi”

“ What do all people speak of today?
------ National integration (‘desiya orumaipãdu’), Compassion (‘manida neyam’) and Tolerance towards other faiths (‘mada nallinakkam’).
The learned, the wise men and elders - all of them feel that this is the need of the hour. I also agree on this. At this juncture the need of the hour is National integration compassion and tolerance. How can these three become a reality? The question that arises in everyone is, ‘How can these three - National Integration, compassion and tolerance be brought about?’

Each one has thought, researched in his own way and offered several ways for bringing about National integration, Compassion and Tolerance. In a democratic country each and every one has the right to speak out. If you ask me, I would say, “Compassion, Tolerance and National integration can be brought about only through spirituality.”
You may question, “What is the basis for your opining so?”

Shall we stop to think a while?

Now, Aurobindo ashram has been established in Pondicherry, in Tamizh Nãdu. Till date several devotees go there and perform worship. They continue to be his devotees. Wherefrom did this Aurobindo come to Tamizh Nãdu? He came from Bengal. But, many devotees from Tamizh Nadu worship him. While worshipping him, we look at him only as a ‘thuravi’ (one who has given up the world) and a Jnani who has ‘Realised’. We do not look at him as one who belongs to Bengal. We do not look at him as one who does not belong to Tamizh Nãdu.

Likewise, Bhuvanagiri, in Tamizh Nãdu, near Chidamabaram is the place where
Raghavendra swami was born. But, where is the samadhi of that Raghavendra swami? Raghavendra swami’s samadhi is in a place called Mantralaya. And where is this Mantralaya? We find that it lies in the border of three States, viz. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra. Today innumerable devotees from all over India go to Mantralaya and perform worship. Through such worship they have become the recipient of his blessings and Raghavendra swami, too, has played several divine plays in each and every one of their lives. The Bhaktãs who go to him do not look at him as, ‘He belongs to Tamiz Nãdu.’ How do they look at him? They look at him as one who has ‘Realised’ God. This is how all people look at him.

Likewise, in Rishikesh in the Himalayas - Rishikesh of yonder was isolated without much people. While describing these parts Kalidas says that these are parts were not inhabited by people. It had been uninhabited in those days. Kalidas has, in his works, said that devas walked about this place - Swami Sivãnanda had founded a big ashram. Even today those who undertake pilgrimage to Hardwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath do not leave without having darshan of Sivãnanda ashram. It is not only an ashram but has also become a great service-rendering organization. But, where does Sivãnanda hail from? He came from the south, from (the state of) Tamizh Nãdu. He came from the parts of Tirunelveli. But, today we look at him only as one who has ‘Realised’; as a great Yogi. Nobody looks at him as, ‘he belongs to Tamizh Nãdu.’

Similarly, a great Mahatma by name Ramakrishna Paramahamsa lived in Bengal. He was one who had ‘Realised’ God; a big ‘Avatãra Purusha’ (Incarnation). We can say that today the whole world holds this ‘Avatãra Purusha’ in high esteem. There is no country where Ramakrishna establishment is not found. In all countries his bhaktãs are to be found. Those who approach these Mahans do not view the Mahans as one belonging to particular country, language, etc. They (Mahans), too, do not look at the devotees who come to them as, ‘he speaks this language, he belongs to this caste, he belongs to this State, he belongs to this country, etc.’ It is only because Mahans do not hold such attitude that the devotees who seek them also do not entertain such feelings. Won’t others behave as we do? Mahans look at all those who come to them with a single Grace (‘arul kannottam’) and entertain no differences. They do not see to which religion or country or State or caste the devotee belongs. We find that this is the way Mahans have blessed.

Now, only they can bring about National integration. Compassion is also possible only by them. In the same way only they can also make tolerance possible. How can it be opined so? If there were a great Jnani belonging to the Hindu religion nobody looks at him as, ‘He is a Hindu ‘thuravi’.’ Even those who belong to other religions seek him; worship him. I have seen this several times. People of all castes were bhaktãs of Kãnchi Periyava. I have spoken about a Mahatma by name Yogiramsuratkumar who lived until recently in Tiruvannamalai. Have I not? Even in his case people from all religions were his bhaktãs. So, only while observing them it is seen that National integration is possible only by such Mahans. This is my opinion.

I have observed a striking factor in the case of Yogiramsuratkumar of Tiruvannamali. I felt that he was the very personification of tolerance. Are you asking how? He always used to wear a green turban over is head. Take a look at his picture. In most of his pictures he is found to wear green turban over his head. Tying green turban is a sign of Islam religion. He used to bless all those who came to him as, ‘My Father blesses! My Father blesses!’ Usually, it is the Christians who use the term, ‘Father! Father!’
They use the term ‘Father!’ whenever referring to God. And, Yogi always used to do japa of the Mantra, ‘Om! Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram!’ This is a Hindu Mantra.
Seeing him speaking the words of Christians, ‘My Father blesses!’ his head donning green turban and with the Rama Nãma always on the tongue it used to strike me, ‘Does he not personify ‘tolerance’ (‘mada nallinakkam’)? Is he not the very form of ‘tolerance’?’ One cannot describe, in mere words, the Compassion that these Mahans possess for people.

Shall I narrate here an incident of his Compassion to a devotee just to bring out the depth of his compassion?

Once, a devotee of his came to him and said, “I have secured a job in one of the Arab countries. Can I go over?” Thus the devotee sought his permission to go to the Arab country.
At once Yogi looked at him and asked repeatedly, “In which country have you got an employment? What is the name of that country?”
In spite of the devotee giving the name of the country repeatedly, the Yogi could not grasp it. So, he said, “I am not able to understand which country you are speaking about. Go to the shop and get a world map.”
The devotee went to the shop, bought an atlas and brought it to Yogi. He pointed out to the country on the world map and said to Yogi, “This is the country that I will be going.” Yet, Yogi said to him, “We will go to the shop and buy a big world map.”
And he went to the shop, got a big world map and asked the devotee, “Where is the Arab country that you are going?”
The Yogi then placed his hand on the country, meditated on God and said to his devotee, “You can go to that country. God has given permission for you to go to that country. Once God has granted permission I have no right to stop you. You can certainly go.” Thus, Yogi blessed him. At the same time the Yogi said to the devotee, “After going over write to me about your welfare. It is a new country. Write to me if all facilities are available, if the work suits you because I will be worried about you.”
That devotee also promised to write to Yogi about his welfare in that country and left.

As promised, after reaching that country and settling down he wrote to his Guru Yogiramsuratkumar in Tiruvannamalai. What had he written in that letter?
‘I have found a friend after coming here. That friend’s name is Gurumurti. That Gurumurti is taking good care of me. He helped me find a place of stay and has helped me get acclimatized to the new surrounding. I am very happy and doing well. Do you know what struck me on learning that this friend’s name was Gurumurti? That it was verily you who had come in his form. Does he not bear the name ‘Gurumurti’ (the form of Guru)? I felt that it was only you who had come in his form. So, I am very happy. I am doing well. Another reason for believing that it was you who have come in the form of Gurumuti is that he (Gurumurti) also belongs to Tiruvannamlai! Even today his parents live only in Tiruvannamalai. He has also come from Tiruvannamalai to this country on employment and has settled down here.’
The devotee sends this message in the form of a letter to his Guru Yogiramsuratkumar.
It was noon when this letter reached Yogiramsuratkumar. Yogi’s asram that is found today had not yet been established.

At first, Yogi lived below the ‘punnai’ tree near Tiurvannamalai railway station. Later, some devotees bought a house for him. It was a house in Sannidhi street near Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai. It was from this house that he was blessing the devotees. He would be in that house or in the temple or in one of the shops that abound the ‘mantap’ in front of the temple. He would roam about the streets of Tiruvannamalai. He would be like a mad person, like a child.

At the time of the receipt of the letter he was in the sannidhi street house. He told the devotee nearby, “Read this letter to me. My child asked me, ‘Shall I go to the Arab country?’ I have permitted him to go. I had asked him to write to me about his welfare there. He has written to me. Read this letter to me.”
That devotee read the letter and told the whole contents of the letter. He said, “a friend by name Gurumurti hailing from Tiruvannamalai is helping him in all ways. Because of his help he is doing very well there. He looks at that Gurumurti as verily yourself.”
On hearing all these, that Gurunatha Yogiramsuratkumar felt very happy.
Yogi asked this devotee, “He has written that his friend Gurumurti’s parents are living in Tiruvannamalai. Do you know where they live?”
This devotee said, ‘Yes, I know’ and mentioned the name of the street where they lived.
Yogi, “Oh! Then we will go to their house.”
Immediately the devotee said, “They are not ones who come here. We do not know them. They are strangers. How can we go to their house?”
Yogi stressed, “No! We must go.”
Yogi got ready to go to their house at that time of the day.
At once the devotee said, “Well! It is all right even if we do not know them. They might know us. Wait a while. I will go over, meet them and inform them about your visit. They will prepare themselves to welcome you. Won’t they?”
The devotee says that he would announce Yogi’s visit to them and then take him there.
Yogi did not welcome this suggestion. “There is no need for this. Both of us will go together. There is no need for any announcement of my visit!”

Even an ordinary man would expect some sort of a welcome when he visits some house. He would expect all to recognize and welcome him. But, one who had attained ‘God Realisation’, a great Jnani, one who was applauded by the world, one to whom many industrialists and people holding high offices bowed down, walks very casually in that hot sun to that house without any paraphernalia or expectation.

He reaches that house and knocks at the door. The parents open the doors. They could not understand the reason for this great Yogi in Tiruvannamalai visiting their home.
At once Yogi looks at them and tells, “My child has gone to the Arab country. There, your son has extended all sorts of help to my affectionate child. So, this beggar (he would always call himself ‘beggar’) has become very happy. Since your son has helped my child I feel that it is the duty of this beggar to bless this house.” Saying that it was his duty to bless this house, he entered the home in a very joyous mood, in a sort of a trance and uttering the Rama Nama that he always chants and fanning the hand fan around he blessed the house. He blessed the house in a very joyous mood and left. He did not see if they respected him, if they welcomed him, if they felt happy about his visit. He did not entertain any thought on the lines, ‘I am going without any invitation. What will they think of me? What will happen to my honour?’ No such thought came to him. He blessed that home and returned to his sannidhi street house.

Who can be so compassionate? They (Mahans) come away leaving their wives, children and parents. They neither think of them nor do they worry about them. But, they take those who seek them as their family. They bear the burden of the families of their devotees. They worry over their problems and are concerned only about their welfare. They feel, ‘it is not enough if I bless my devotee but should bless all those who help my devotee!’ In Mahabharata, how did Krishna view each and every one? Any friend of Arjuna was his friend. Any enemy of Arjuna was his enemy. The deep love (‘anbu’/‘premai’) that Krishna had for Arjuna was the reason behind this. It is this sort of love that Mahans have shown to all those who have sought them.

When these Mahans mingle with the devotees without any bias of Nationality, State, Caste, Religion or Language then we find that those who seek them, those who come to them also forget all about the country, the state, the caste, the language they belong. Therefore, real tolerance, real national integration and compassion can come about only through such Mahans who have attained Oneness with God.

The charitra of such Mahans are the proof for achieving national integration, tolerance and compassion. Moreover, from the lives of several Mahans we are able to understand their deep compassion. In these we find that they have gone beyond religion, caste, nationality, language, state and looking at Man only as Man, have blessed the people with the requisite ‘arul’ (Grace). Therefore, in the world when each and everyone attains such high state of spirituality there is no doubt whatsoever that National Integration, Compassion and Tolerance towards other faiths will come about. "

GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
GOVINDA! GOVINDA!”

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

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