Mercy Beyond Measure

Ramana Maharshi

-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 16:49

T.R Rajagopal was a devotee of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Bhagavan had His own knack of flourishing people under His fold. His mercy was beyond measure. It cloaked not only His folks who flocked Him but spread out wide as a canopy of comfort for even those who were clueless about Him. Its a never ending story and His care continues to caress one and all.

T.R Rajagopal"s experience of meeting Bhagavan was also one such. He records that Bhagavan had come into His life when he had felt utterly desolate and forlorn. A time when he had undergone a crucial financial upheaval. He had incurred a great loss in his business that even his family, friends and relatives had cold shouldered him. This led him to the realization that one is actually alone in his life even amidst family and friends.

One night he day a vivid dream in which a sage appeared with brilliant effulgence and assured of His protection. T.R.Rajagopal could identify it as Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. However he brushed aside the vision. He wondered of the possibility of Bhagavan extending His protection for someone who has not in the least thought of Him. He thus pushed away the urge that was building in him to meet Bhagavan.

It is a wide known fact amidst the devotees that once one is pulled into the orbit of His grace, then there is no escape. For the plight of the one is like that of a prey in the tiger's jaw. Could His grace ever suspend one that easily? Hence T.R.Rajagopal gave in and ultimately set off to meet His benefactor. He had not even a single paise with him and so set off on foot from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh to Tiruvannamalai on 30th November 1947, eating whatever was offered to him on the way. He finally reached Bhagavan's presence on 10th December. It was his much awaited moment and the sorrow laden heart swelled up with joy with a piercing gaze of Bhagavan. He says that he was unable to withstand the power of His gaze, he shut his eyes, surrendering himself totally to the care of Bhagavan. A new confidence surged in his heart.

On his return back from Tiruvannamalai he made earnest efforts to find a job. On the 19th of Febuary 1948, as he was walking on the street of Hyderabad, he met his friend Parthasarathy. The customary attitude of his friends to shy away from him made him think that he would become an object of negligence to this old friend as well. However the latter made fond enquirers and found him a job in Sirpur Paper Mills with a salary of five hundred rupees per month. This settled the issue for him.

Who can ever measure Ramana's mercy? One just cuddles in the warmth of His compassion, a hearth for all the shrivelled hearts.