1978 - The Avatar’s biological family
Photos
Biological parents: Swamiamma and Swamiappa
Arunachalam and Lokanayaki, The Avatar's biological parents. Picture taken in ~1988.
Anusuya Ammal
Anusuya Ammal - The Avatar's paternal grandmother in the terrace of The Avatar's home in Tiruvoodal street in Tiruvannamalai. Behind her can be seen one of the nine temple towers of the Arunachaleshwara temple.
She lost her husband very young, and demonstrated how a chaste widow can live powerfully and manifest integrity in all around her. She contributed to The young Avatar's life by taking Him on pilgrimages for several years, and also showed Him a lifestyle of Oneness with animals and birds.
Annamalai Chettiar
Annamalai Chettiar, The Avatar's paternal grandfather. He died very young (~April 1970), even before The Avatar's parents were married.
Kumarasamy Chettiar
Kumarasamy Chettiar, paternal great grandfather of The Avatar, whose son was Annamalai Chettiar, whose son in turn was Arunachalam - The Avatar's father
The Avatar's words on His great grandfather: "He is the start of the family tree, the start of spirituality in the family. He lived like a Paramahamsa (enlightened being). Only because of that he could throw away all his wealth in the Bhoomantha kulam (a large sacred pond in Tiruvannamalai from where water was taken to the Arunachaleshwara temple in the early years every day early morning to wash the entry steps of the main sanctum just after opening the temple doorway) and go to Kasi (Varanasi, spiritual capital of India). He used to wear a big rudraksh kandi (traditional necklace beaded with sacred energy bead - rudraksh). The family had the tradition of wearing it. Somewhere down the line, the family has given up that tradition. His photograph is proof that the family was one of great devotion and tradition. He became a sadhu (ascetic) in Varanasi."
Sami Chettiar
Sami Chettiar and His wife Dhanakoti Ammal. Sami Chettiar is The Avatar's paternal grandfather Annamalai Chettiar's elder brother. He passed away in ~1969. Dhanakoti Ammal lived till a 100 years in the AKS home complex in Tiruvoodal Street - where The Avatar's family resided as a large joint family setup. Inspite of having two daughters-in-law to serve her, she cooked her own food and lived a healthy and active life till her last breath. It was she who opened her jewel box of dazzling jewelry to HDH when He was a baby and out of all the dazzling jewelry, He picked the sacred Rudraksh energy bead.
Dhanakoti Ammal
Dhanakoti Ammal, sister of Annamalai Chettiar - The Avatar's paternal grandfather. She was extremely fond of The Avatar as a child and worshipped Him as Lord Muruga Himself. She would offer Him food before she ate when she was with Him. Even at that young age, she called Him "Jnana Pandita" meaning "Enlightened Scholarly One!" She observed the deep spiritual inclinations in The young Avatar and likened it to that of Kumarasamy Chettiar, her own father, who is known in His birth town Tiruvannamalai for having thrown away his entire wealth in the famous Bhoomanda kulam (lake) and adorned asceticism to merge with the Divine.
Kannammal
Kannammal, sister of Annamalai Chettiar, The Avatar's paternal grandfather. Her family stays in a village called Sirumayilur near Tiruvannamalai, The Avatar's hometown.
Kannamal & Husband
Kannammal and her husband Rajagopal Chettiar. Kannammal is the sister of Annamalai Chettiar, The Avatar's paternal grandfather.