Kms030. A Sorrowful Telegram Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

KANCHI MAHA SWAMI

At Nagari when he stayed,
He was invited to preside
O'er a meeting of Pundits,
To discuss on the Vedas.

One morning he received
From Kumbakonam Mutt
A bad news that peacefully
His mother passed away.

At that time, he was discussing
On Vedas seriously something,
And just for a few minutes
Closed his eyes, in silence.

He then asked all the Pundits,
What were the defined duties
Of family renounced Sanyasis,
On such sorrowful occasions.

They knew well the answer
But did not say a word o'er
The subject but kept silence
As they were also in distress.

Maha Swami left his seat,
Went to the waterfall spot,
And took his purifying bath
From the sadness of her death.

All the Pundits followed him
The people were behind them.
They all took bath by his side,
To express, they were also sad.

The Mutt donated to Pundits
Handful of gold and silver coins,
And on the tenth day of her departure
They distributed food to the poor.

A Sanyasi living in a forest
Will not entertain a thought
Of any ceremony or function,
That affects his renunciation.

But Maha Swami was a Head,
Of a Mutt leading this world,
So he set himself as an example,
Before all the religious people.