AMMA IN CHIRALA – MOUNASAMY INTERVIEWED
Dear Sweet Children,
Several days passed happily in CHIRALA. MARIDAMMA TATAMMA served Amma and others with plenty of love. Incidentally it came to her notice that a monk called MOUNA SWAMI, whom she had known earlier, was at that time available in Chirala. MARIDAMMA desired to visit him. She therefore proposed to extend her stay by a few more days.
A wealthy landlord, NOONE PANAKALU by name, kept his big garden in Chirala at the disposal of the Swamiji so that he could receive crowds of visitors. Maridamma visited the Swamiji one day. There was a good gathering. Maridamma knew for certain that the Swamiji would not speak back a word to her as he observed mouna (silence). However Maridamma stayed in the garden for a while and returned home with the satisfaction that she had his darshan.
Amma, aged nine, also wanted to visit him when he was alone without any visitors around. But a good number of children of and above her age, formed the crowd. Panakalu’s wife was fond of children as she had none of her own. She distributed plenty of nice Prasadam and that was the star attraction for the children. But they were chased away by an elderly rude fellow with a cane too in hand as he felt that the children were a nuisance and a disturbance to the peaceful atmosphere. He would liberally reward them with the cane if they did not leave the place in spite of his threats. Amma too was one among his victims as he mistook that she also was there for the sake of Prasadam. How would he know that Amma, a mere girl, wanted to visit the Swamiji? She was too young to convey such an impression. Meanwhile, the timely arrival of Panakalu, who warned the canewallah not to interfere with the innocent children, saved the situation.
Finally, Amma managed to enter the Swamiji’s room unobserved by others. On seeing her, the Swamiji himself volunteered to accost her and call her in. “Come, Come, has anyone observed you coming in?” he asked.
Amma asked him if he observed MOUNA and for what purpose. The Swamiji told her that it was not a regular vow of silence, but its observance would help him avoid unworthy interlocutors.
It may be recalled that the same Swamiji visited MANNAVA when Amma was just 22 months old, about 10 years ago. He installed Raja Rajeswari Yantram in the Mannava temple. But the villagers thought it was Rajyalakshmi Yantram. Having unexpectedly encountered Mouna Swami now in Chirala, Amma sought clarification from him about the type of Yantra he installed, and the Swamiji confirmed that it was Raja Rajeswari yantra and not another. Thus Amma got the issue clinched for the satisfaction of one and all.
Amma: “You are observing Mouna. You are therefore called Mouna Swami, I had my own fears whether you would speak to me at all.”
Swami: “True! Generally I observe strict Mouna and I do not speak to anybody. But the moment I saw you I was captivated by some inexplicable divine effulgence in your face! I therefore volunteered to break my mouna. (The Swamiji halted and continued). I will not reveal your identity to anybody. I will keep it in my heart….” He murmured. What for? He hesitated.
Thus, the Swamiji tried to cajole Amma to reveal her real identity. That was what he evidently attempted to drive at on observing the divine glow.
But Amma never encouraged anyone in that direction. Even Chidambara Rao, her grandfather who was very close to Amma, failed to totally grasp her true nature by any amount of tactful persuasion though he experienced periodical flashes of divinity in her. Others too with the same mission failed. She was a hard nut to crack for one and all. She always left them with the impression that she was a mere girl, and they had to rest content with that evasive reply. You have, dear children, come across several such occasions in earlier tales. You may please rummage through them at your leisure.
MOUNA SWAMI similarly felt curious to know the real statue of Amma. But Amma tactfully altered the course of their conversation. In the meantime the footsteps of someone were heard. Swamiji did not want anyone to gain the impression that he spoke to the girl.
He very much desired that his reputation as Mounasamy remained unbreached. He therefore requested Amma to leave the place as someone was about to enter. Thus came to an abrupt end the interesting interview between a 9 year old Amma and an elderly sanyasi.
Maridamma and Seshamma pulled up Ammo for going about the town in the hot sun without her timely meal. Amma pacified them saying that she too visited Mouna Swami. Amma recouped her heath in Chirala due to the special attention she received from her aunt SESHAMMA. Amma and Maridamma returned to Bapatla soon after into the affectionate care of Chidambara Rao.
(…… to be continued)