1978 - Raju Mudaliar - The Avatar's Biological Maternal Grandfather
| Raju Mudaliar | |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Date of Leaving the Body | 7 January 2007 |
| Location of Samadhi | Adi Arunachala Sarvajnapeetham in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu |
| Summary | Biological Maternal Grandfather of the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism who He named as His first guru who taught Him the habit of doing puja daily, the verses of Shivapuranam and facilitated His training by His gurus |
| Other Names | Mudaliar |
| Place of Teaching | Tiruvannamalai, State of Tamilnadu, South India (birthplace of His Divine Holiness) |
| Guru | The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism |
| Location | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India |
| Associated Kingdom | Kailasa Paramparagatha Adi Arunachala Sarvajnapeetha Samrajyam |
The maternal grandfather of His Divine Holiness was Sri Raju Mudaliar from the small village of Pakkam on the road from Vizhupuram to Pondicherry in Tamilnadu, South India. Before the age of eighteen, Raju Mudaliar's parents tragically passed away and he was left orphaned even before physical maturity. Without anyone to call his own, Raju Mudaliar walked to the town of Tiruvannamalai and adopted Lord Arunachaleshwara as his beloved father. For his simple integrity and devotion, Paramashiva accepted him as His family and blessed him by incarnating as his own grandson in January 1978. Raju Mudaliar began to work in the streets of Tiruvannamalai, first laboring as a delivery boy for the rice shop owners and moving the 100 kg rice bags, and then slowly becoming a learned and trusted assistant for them. Soon, Raju Mudaliar established his own rice shop and became well known and influential in the grain trade in and around Tiruvannamalai. He married Yellammal and their first child was Ma Lokanayaki, who would be the mother of The Avatar.
Life of Integrity
Raju Mudaliar began working for Natukotti Chettiar, where He became an ardent and trustworthy disciple of Sri Tiruchi Mahaswamigal. Without missing even a day, while Ma Lokanayaki was carrying Paramashiva in her womb, her father, Raju Mudaliar would go to the Arunachaleshwara Temple for receiving the darshan of Paramashiva. It was in these intimate moments, in the dark chambers at the aperture of the garbha graha of Arunachaleshwara that Raju Mudaliar expressed his most secret desire for Arunachala Himself to be born as his daughter’s second son. Only then he would exit the temple with the prasada from Arunachaleshwara that he would immediately take home and offer to his daughter, Lokanayakiammal.
Upon the arrival of Ma Lokanayaki and the newborn baby, The Avatar himself, at his home in Kanni Kovil Street, Raju Mudaliar had the first opportunity to see His grandson. He was filled with overjoyous adoration, kissing the feet of His Divine Holiness first and cradling Him in his arms, filled with jnāna bhakti, the devotion which comes from the knowledge that the small baby in his arms at that moment was none other than the embodiment of Superconsciousness - Paramashiva Himself.
From the time The Avatar was in the most tender form as a small child, Raju Mudaliar was graced by being among the few who truly know His identity. Though the grandfather Raju Mudaliar and divine grandson, Rajashekaran, shared a name, the grandfather only saw Him as his own higher identity and thus, Raju Mudaliar called Him lovingly as “Swami” (or “Sami” as per the local dialect), just as the locals would endearingly and respectfully call their revered Guru. As it was sta,rted by the head of the family himself, the habit of calling His Divine Holiness "Swami" or "Sami" permeated throughout the whole family, from the very beginning of the life of His Divine Holiness.
Every morning in these initial days of the Avatar’s advent onto Planet Earth, Ma Lokanayaki would place the divine child in the puja space of her father and He awoke by the bell of His grandfather’s early morning puja routine. Raju Mudaliar would take his time and devotedly do his atmaartha puja and once finished, he would offer a few drops of the milk which was consecrated during his puja onto the rose-colored tongue of His Divine Holiness as His first consumption for the day.
References
- His Divine Holiness reveals that His grandfather told Him that He always used to pray for Arunachala to come down and be born to Ma Lokanayaki. (Revealed on 31 January 2013. YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPAe1QM41gw)
- His Divine Holiness reveals on 24 May 2017 that from when He was a baby, He remembers hearing the puja bell from His grandfather’s puja and having the milk from his puja as the first consumption for the day. YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ8D43MlWE
- In the talk from 7 November 2019, the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism narrates His grandfathers involvement with Tiruchi Swamigal. He explains how His grandfather had simple integrity with which He worked and was a millionare by the time he was 75 years old. https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/November_07_2019
First Guru of The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism
Every Sunday, Raju Mudaliar walked to the temple with his beloved grandson, the one who shouldered the responsibility of the whole universe, seated on his own shoulders.
In the temple, His Divine Holiness would ask His grandfather to explain the great Hindu epics which were carved on the pillars of the Arunachaleshwara temple. For a moment, Raju Mudaliar was speechless. What epics would He tell Bhagavan Paramashiva, the one who was the central character in many of these histories. Raju Mudaliar, was then reminded of the great sage Gautama Rishi who was requested the same by Devi Parashakti eons ago in the same land. Gautama Rishi had responded, अथवा भक्तवक्त्रेण शिववैभवसंश्रवः । शिक्षणं सांभवं तेषां तव तुष्टेश्च कारणम् , athavā bhaktavaktreṇa śivavaibhavasaṃśravaḥ । śikṣaṇaṃ sāṃbhavaṃ teṣāṃ tava tuṣṭeśca kāraṇam ॥, justifying that the source of her strange request was perhaps because Parashakti cherishes hearing the glories of Paramashiva as told by His devotees, so also, Raju Mudaliar narrated the great Hindu epic depictions carved on the temple pillars to his grandson, who was Paramashiva Himself.
And thus to the one who Himself conquered Yamaraja, he recounted the great purana of Markandeya again! On the way back from the temple, His Divine Holiness would narrate to his grandfather all the stories that He had heard!
To the surprise of Raju Mudaliar, as quickly as He began speaking, His Divine Holiness began revealing the profound Truths of the Cosmos and delivering discourses on the great scriptures and epics of Sanatana Hindu Dharma at length.
One day when His Divine Holiness was around three years old, Raju Mudaliar took Him to a local book fair as Raju Mudaliar always collected spiritual books in his own home. His Divine Holiness excitedly began looking through the book sections with illustrations until His lotus-like eyes found a book of the great epic Ramayana which was full of illustrations for kids. However, after His Divine Holiness leafed through a few of the pages, disappointment befell His divine features. When the shop owner asked Him if He liked this book, He replied, “No! I don’t want this book!”
Then the young Avatar explained to the elderly bookshop owner that the book was misrepresenting the Ramayana itself and that instead of narrating the story with the illustrations to support, it appeared as though for the sake of the pictures they had made up the storyline.
The stall owner was shocked at The Avatar’s conviction and authority. He challenged, “Why don’t you narrate to me the Ramayana as you know it in its true form?”
Upon the invitation for the one who is sarvajñamaparājitam, who is the very ability of knowing and who is invincible , His Divine Holiness earnestly began narrating the great epic Ramayana. As Paramashiva began, all of the rishis, munis, siddhas, who live with Him always, became alert at once and listened to the adorable Incarnation, who is the Source of all Existence itself, eloquently describe the venerated epic of Hinduism. For this unique narration, among those who devoutly listened was Rishi Valmiki, who originally authored the Ramayana, being stirred to reification by the words of Paramashiva Himself.
As the stall owner listened to the divine three-year-old narrate this story, it became clear to him that this was no ordinary child in front of him. Overcome with distaste for his own underestimation of this divine child, the stall owner picked Him up and seated Him on the table. He then prostrated to Him fully as tears streamed down his cheeks and the elderly scholar unraveled himself at the feet of Paramashiva Himself.
As His Divine Holiness continued the oration of the Ramayana, His grandfather also returned to witness what had unfolded between the owner of the book stall and His divine grandson. A throng of people began to grow as many were attracted by the adorable sight of the three-year-old incarnation narrating the grand epic of Hinduism. When He finally concluded, time and all outside responsibilities were forgotten by His captivated audience, and thunderous applause resounded the whole book fair that made it most memorable.
Before parting ways, the stall owner spoke to Raju Mudaliar, his eyes still moist, and told him what he already knew. “He is truly bestowed with divine grace!” He said and kissed the cheeks of His Divine Holiness before allowing them to leave.
That night as Raju Mudaliar sang the verses from the sacred Tamil Texts - Sivapuranam, Tevaram and Tiruvasagam, as he did routinely with his whole family, with his grandson fast asleep on his lap, he gazed on at the most beautiful infant wondering what punya - spiritual credit - he had earned in the past to enjoy the Leelas - Divine Play - of Paramashiva so closely in this life.
He sang the verses from Shivapuranam:
புல் ஆகிப் பூடு ஆய்ப் புழுஆய் மரம் ஆகிப் பல் விருகம் ஆகிப் பரவை ஆய் பாம்பு ஆகிக் கல் ஆய் மனிதர் ஆய்ப் பேய் ஆய்க் கணங்கள் ஆய் வல் அசுரர் ஆகி முனிவர் ஆய் தேவர் ஆய்ச் செல்லா அ நின்ற இத்தாவர சங்கமத்துள் எல்லாப் பிறப்பும் பிறந்து இளைத்தேன் எம்பெருமான் மெய்யே உன் பொன் அடிகள் கண்டு இன்று வீடு உற்றேன்
“Pullaagi, poodaai puzhuvai maramaagi, pal virugamaagi pravayaai, pambaagi, kallaai, manitharaai peyaai, ganangalaai, val asuraraagi, munivaraai, devaraai, Chellaa nindra, ithathaavara jangamathul, Yellaa pirappum piranthu, ilaithen, yem perumaan Meyye Un ponnadigal kandu indru veedu utren,”
Oh Lord, by taking birth as grass, as small plants, as worms, trees, several types of animals, birds, snakes, stones, human beings, spirits, different types of devils, strong demons, sages, gods, And having traveled continuously through this spectrum of moving and unmoving things, And took all types of births and became tired.
Truly I have attained salvation seeing your golden feet at last
References
- His Divine Holiness has revealed as part of talk on 29 June 2012, (YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8zU46_b5kE), His grandfather’s habit of singing the Tamil verses from Tevaram, Tiruvasagam and Shivapuranam every night before going to bed.
- In this talk the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism speaks on His biological grandfather being the dharma kartha of the Arunachaleshwara Temple and how every day He Himself thanks Mahadeva that He was born in a temple-based family https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/November_06_2020
Photo Album of Raju Mudaliar (The Avatar's Biological Maternal Grandfather) and his Home and Rice Shop
1978 | Tiruvoodal street in Tiruvannamalai where The Avatar lived as a child. Glancing at this perfect photograph, The Avatar excitedly recalls, "Where I used to live... If you come out of My house, you will see this exact view!"
~1990 | Raju Mudaliar aya with his colleagues in a local summit for rice merchants, in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.
Raju Mudaliar aya seen looking at the camera at a temple festival in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.
1978 | The traditional doorway of Raju Mudaliar's house in Kanni Kovil street, Tiruvannamalai where The Avatar spent long hours, absorbing the lifestyle of Sanatana Hindu Dharma from His maternal grandfather (Raju Mudaliar).
1978 | In these stone containers that are found even today outside the Avatar's maternal grandfather Raju Mudaliar's house, food or water is served for the cows, dogs and horses to appease their thirst and hunger. The Avatar says, "This is the first 'rice bowl' I saw for the purpose of feeding others."
1978 | Puja room where Raju Mudaliar - The Avatar's maternal grandfather - where The Avatar witnessed him offering worship everyday with such high integrity.
The Avatar says of His grandfather, "He was the one who I saw first doing the spiritual routine. No matter when he gets home from the office at night, he will always get up before sunrise, prepare for puja and do puja for three-four hours, in a very unhurried way. Every night when he came from work, he would leave the key of his shop by the Shiva deity."
1978 | The Avatar's maternal grandfather Raju Mudaliar's personal deities - Ganesha and Shivalinga - that he worshipped everyday. They are still in the pūjā room altar in his house in Kanni Kovil street in Tiruvannamalai. The Avatar says of his grandfather, "I have never seen him miss his pūjā; cold, cough, family reasons, nothing will make him miss it. From the time I remember Me, I used to be with him for pūjā."
1978 | The working desk and chair of Raju Mudaliar, The Avatar's maternal grandfather, in his rice shop in Mandi street, Tiruvannamalai, maintained as it was when he was alive. PR & Co. was the name of the rice shop. 'PR' stood for Ponnu Swamy and Raja Mudaliar. Ponnu Swamy is the name of The Avatar's great grand father, with whom His grandfather started the rice shop. The Avatar recalls about His grandfather, "My grandfather was also a person of such charity. Every night, even if it was one o’clock, two o’clock in the night, only after signing the ledger and completing the accounts of the shop, he would go to bed."
The entry room of Raju Mudaliar's (The Avatar's maternal grandfather) grain shop on Mandi street, Tiruvannamalai. The host of framed pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses that he worshipped, as well as the very table and chair he used, are maintained till date as can be seen. The Avatar frequented the shop as a child, absorbing His grandfather's business integrity and acumen effortlessly. He used to also visit the shop to collect His funding coins from His grandfather, that He needed for His multifarious spiritual and religious activities!
Also seen is the cashier's desk to the left of Raju Mudaliar's desk. Across this desk, The young Avatar would impatiently wait for endless minutes to collect the coins sanctioned by His grandfather for His humble requests. The only items The young Avatar ever wanted were puja related items or dakshina (traditional offering to one's Guru) to give His Guru Arunagiri Yogishwara (embodiment of ParamaShiva, the primordial Hindu Divinity), during a rare and formal traditional spiritual initiation. The Avatar fondly says of His grandfather, "He was the 'funder' usually for all My rituals and expenses!"
1978 | The hall in The Avatar's maternal grandfather's (Raju Mudaliar) house on Kanni Kovil Street, Tiruvannamalai, where sādhus (wandering ascetics) were fed everyday. The Avatar says, "My mental setup of giving food to people, I got from My grandfather. He would go to the temple every day, search for sādhus near the temple, bring them home, make them sit down, recite some stotras (devotional songs) or verses from the Purāṇas - stories of Hindu Gods - like Śiva Purāṇa, offer them ārati (ceremonial waving of lamps), offer them dakṣiṇa (money), then feed them, and only after that, he would eat."
The inner room of Raju Mudaliar's (The Avatar's maternal grandfather) rice shop. It still functions on Mandi Street in Tiruvannamalai in the same location. Bags of grain can be seen in the picture.Raju Mudaliar along with his cousin brother T.S.Subburaya Chettiar (affectionately called "Express" because of his fast-paced walk), were key players in the rice market in their hay days. The shop is maintained till date the way it was when Raju Mudaliar was there. The Avatar frequented the shop as a child, absorbing His grandfather's business integrity and acumen effortlessly. He used to also visit the shop to collect His funding coins from His grandfather, that He needed for His multifarious spiritual and religious activities!
1978 | The Avatar's maternal grandfather Raju Mudaliar's book shelf in his puja (worship) room. The Avatar recalls, "I learnt the habit of reading a few pages of the sacred scriptures before falling asleep from My grandfather. He used to go to sleep at midnight, but even at that time, he would sit and chant Tirujnanasambandhar’s Thevaram before sleeping."
A small green linga which was gifted to The Avatar at a young age by His biological maternal grandfather. This linga is now safeguarded in the Sovereign Archives of the National Archives of ShriKAILASA and is still worshiped by The Avatar!