Author: PRADEEP KRISHNAN
About two decades ago, reading about Sri Mouna Swami of Velpur in the book ‘Meetings with Saints and Sages,’ authored by Shri V. Ganeshan ji (Grandson of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s brother), “He is ever surrounded by devotees – day and night – denying any form of privacy for this extraordinarily simple Swami wearing only a loincloth! Behind where he sits and a little above his head are prominently visible the sacred feet of Sri Bhagavan’s very large portrait in a standing pose. There is also a small board requesting visitors not to put questions or doubts to Swami which pertain to one’s worldly concerns; and that, spiritual doubts or questions alone should be asked. Despite this, if people question Swami on their worldly troubles, he smilingly turns round, raises his hand and reverentially points to the holy feet of Sri Bhagavan and gestures to indicate that ‘Sri Bhagavan is Blessing’ or ‘Sri Bhagavan’s Blessings’ are fully on them. Swami never owns any form of credit for things happening in and around him; thus specifically indicating that everything is Sri Bhagavan’s Grace alone,” I longed to have the Swamiji’s darsan.
As it often happens with our plans, my wife Sreelakshmi and I could visit the “Silent Saint,” totally devoted to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi only on the 18th of August last year (2024).
The saint’s abode, Ramana Nilaya Ashram is situated in Velpur, 4 Kms away from Tanuku, a small town in the West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Located in a three acre plot encompassing lush green paddy fields and coconut plantation, all the inmates of the ashram, including Sri Mouna Swamiji work in the fields. As testimony to his devotion and dedication of Sri Ramana, everywhere in the ashram, in the walls, garden and other places, one can see pictures, sculptures and quotes of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Swamiji always remains in absolute silence and when absolutely required communicates by writing in a slate.
Devotees and visitors who throng every day to have darsan of Swamiji, have to wait in the ashram hall, where amidst his work in the fields, ploughing, planting and watering, Swamiji intermittently comes and sits in mediation in a wooden plank, facing people. After a while, when Swamiji opens eyes, one by one, people walk towards him and present their questions/problems/worries. Swamiji patiently listens to each and often bless him/her by gestures: raising his right hand or by nodding head. Occasionally, the visitor writes his problem and swamiji write back the answer in one or two words. The questioner goes back and sits in the chair with absolute faith and surrender.
During our visit, just after the meditation session, Swamiji gave each one of the assembled a prasad: a chocolate and a book or photo of Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi. While I got a book, my wife got a beautiful colour photo of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi! Surprisingly, Swamiji through his attendant conveyed that we can stay in the ashram for three days! Really, a blessing from Bhagwan Sri Ramana.
Though the daily routine for Swami starts at 2 o’clock in the morning, there was no fatigue or tiredness in Swamiji’s face. His smiling countenance constantly shines with love and benevolence. He soon gets immersed in meditation, with other Ashramites and devotees joining him. Even when the persons who work in the ‘Goshala’ and the next batch of people who are to prepare breakfast leave, till 10’o clock Swamiji will be seated like a living statue deeply immersed within, in bliss, unmindful of mosquitoes and flies without a twitch.
Then he works in the field — plucking out weeds or helping in the construction of building or cutting grass for the cows or binding the books that are meant for distribution. In between he comes to the dhyana hall and attends to devotees. Around 12.30, without even uncrossing his legs from sukhasana, he shoots up himself to a straight standing posture without the need of any form of support – an extraordinary yogic feat, indeed! He then proceeds to lunch — the first meal of his day! He mixes up every form of food — vegetables, chappati, rasam, buttermilk and desserts — into a semi-solid liquid and drinks it up. After a little resting period, from 2 p.m. onwards he again goes to the fields.
Wherever Swami ji, the remarkable Karma Yogi moves to serve, devotees move along with him, without a word passing between each other. When the Sun is down by 6 to 7 p.m., everybody is back for dinner – after which book-binding goes on until 9 to 10 p.m.!! Then, after four to five hours of sleep, he is back in action around 2 AM. Swami does not permit anyone to do any form of writing on his life!
We were earlier told that Swami and his inner circle of devotees lived only on the sale-produce from the field. When we offered donation to the ashram, it was politely declined. Bhagavan Ramana once said, “If one accepts from others, even a grain of salt, one has to eternally be indebted to the giver!”
A devotee told us that Swamiji’s father had bequeathed the Ashram to him. Rice, peanuts and sesame seeds, grown with a lot of care and attention in the fields, are sold in the market to run the ashram. Interestingly on Mondays and Fridays, the local people are blessed with the harvest of Swamiji’s hard work on the field; vegetables and spinaches. As Sri Ganeshan ji had written, “Here is one Swami to whom you can give ‘nothing’; but, you can take a lot of things – books, fruits, chocolates, vegetables and spinaches! More than all these, you continuously get his blessings through his “Glance of Grace,” along with his most beautiful smile.”
In the Ashram, every year, two functions are celebrated on a large scale; one in November – Swami’s ‘Silence Day’ (the day in 1985 when he started observing total silence) and Sat–Guru Ramana’s Jayanthi (Birthday) in December-January. On both these occasions, more than twenty thousand people are fed!
Sri Ganeshan ji, writes that Swamiji is a “perfect ‘disciple’ of Sri Bhagavan.” We were fortunate to have the darsan of a true disciple of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami!
What we enjoyed most was the silence and calm that engulfed us while sitting in front of the Swamiji. The dark complexioned and tall Swamiji clad in a loin cloth, his child like smiling face, penetrating eyes and simple manners are still etched in our heart and soul.
With sastanga pranams to Sri Velpur Mouna Swamiji and Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi, I conclude this write-up.