Ramana Maharshi Devotee Mudaliar Granny

24th September, 1949

The Mudaliar Granny who, like Echamma, was bringing food to Bhagavan daily, gave up her body last night and got merged in the lotus feet of Sri Ramana. She was buried in Gounder’s compound this afternoon.

Her native place is a village called Thillayadi near Karaikal. She belonged to the
Thondaimandala Mudaliar caste. Her name was Alankaratthammani.

She had a son by name Subbiah Mudaliar and a daughter-in-law Kamakshi. The three used
to spend their time in the service of an old sannyasi. That sannyasi passed away sometime in 1908 or 1909.

Subsequently, in 1910, it appears she came here along with her son and daughter-in-law. By then Echamma had been supplying Bhagavan food every day. In the same way
Alankaratthammani also began supplying food. In due course, she began giving food now and then to the devotees also.

The son and daughter-in-law used to help her in the work. After some time the son renounced everything, took to Sanyasa at the Tiruppananthal Mutt and began wandering about as a Tamburan (wandering minstrel).

Kamakshi, the daughter-in-law, concentrated all her attention in the service of Bhagavan with single-minded devotion, without being in the least worried over her husband’s desertion. She passed away sometime in 1938-1939.

The Granny had no money and none to help her in the domestic work in the house. Seeing her desolate condition,and taking pity on her, Niranjananandaswami, Kunjuswami,Ranganatha Gounder and others advised her saying, “Now you are an old woman. You can no longer worry yourself about this service of offering food to Bhagavan. The Ashram is giving shelter to several people. So you eat here and sit in peace in Bhagavan’s presence with closed eyes; or if you so desire we will send you food to your place. Eat and stay at home.”

She replied, “Whatever the difficulties, I will not give up this holy task. If I do not have money, I will go to ten houses, feeling my way with my stick, beg for food, offer it to Bhagavan and then only will I eat. I cannot keep quiet.” So saying, and with tears in her eyes, the woman went away.

Kunjuswami, Gounder, and other devotees took pity on her and gave her financial help so as to enable her to continue her offerings to Bhagavan. It was only after that, that Rangaswami Gounder built two houses in the place where Kunjuswami is now staying with a stipulation that Kunjuswami can occupy them during his life time, and after
him these should be given away for the use of sadhus. He endowed some property also for their maintenance and arranged for this old woman to stay there.

In her last days,her son came to her and helped her in her offerings to Bhagavan, even though he had renounced the world by becoming a sannyasi and a wandering minstrel. In this manner, the life of a devotee who had worshipped Bhagavan for about forty years without failing even for a single day in her self-imposed duty has come to a close.

Granny took great liberties with Bhagavan. During the early days of my stay here she used to bring food and serve it herself to Bhagavan. She used to place on his leaf a handful of curry and a handful of cooked rice. One day, Bhagavan reprimanded her saying, “If you serve so much, how can I eat it?” With great familiarity, she said, “How much is it, Swami? It is only very little.” “There are several other things also to eat. Should not my stomach contain them all?” said Bhagavan.“It is all a matter of the mind, Swami.” So saying, she served him as usual and left. Laughing at it, Bhagavan told people near about him, “Do you see? She is paying me back in my own coin (my upadesa).”

Of late, she has not been able to see at all. Even so,when about four months ago she expressed a wish to see Bhagavan, a devotee led her to Bhagavan’s presence. When a person near Bhagavan said, “Granny, you have no eyesight to see Bhagavan. Why have you come?” She replied,“Though I cannot see Bhagavan’s body, my body can be seen by Bhagavan and that is more than enough for me.”

Sources:

1) Letters from Sri Ramanasramam VOLUMES I, II & Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam By SURI NAGAMMA Translated by D. S. SASTRI
2) Arunachala's Ramana Volume VIII Book

Readers interested are requested to read below article as well

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2009/08/humour-of-sri-bhagavan-ramana-maharshi.html

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2009/09/ramana-maharshis-humorous-comparision.html