Ramana Maharshi Says Maya Can Come In Any Form And Need Not Come Only As A Woman

Once Kunju Swami was walking towards the Hall.There were some visitors who were coming to the Hall and the Office asked him to guide them to their seats in the Hall. (They had a hidden agenda, perhaps, asking Bhagavan Ramana to lend His support for some reform movement or something).Kunju Swami, without knowing any of this background, went to Bhagavan and told Him that they have all come to meet Him.

Bhagavan Ramana did not say anything for some minutes. Then, He suddenly turned towards Kunju Swami and shouted at him in Malayalam."Why should you introduce them to me? Who are they? What do you know about their back ground?Is it your work?Do you think that Maya would come only in the form of a woman (or gold or lands)?Anything that distracts you is Maya? Why should you do all these, without pursuing your Sadhana?" The shouting continued for 15 minutes.Kunju Swami did not understand head or tail.He simply kept quiet, hanging his head down in shame.

Seeing Bhagavan Ramana's mood, the visitors simply prostrated before Him and left without uttering a word.

Then Bhagavan Ramana smiled and said: "How can I shout at them? I can only shout at you.These are all Maya's pranks and do not fall a prey to Maya.Maya need not come only as a woman.Do the work for which you had come."


Kunju Swami understood completely. Even though it was not fully his fault,this shouting of Bhagavan reminded him of the true purpose for which he had come.Anyway, that resulted in those people leaving Bhagavan Ramana without a word.

Maya can come in any form.For a insulin-dependent diabetic,the ice cream gulped by the fellow sitting opposite you in the restaurant is also Maya.If he tries ice cream, he has to rush the doctor for another dose of insulin.