Rm19. Devotee Echammal Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

RAMANA MAHARISHI

"Wounded leg remains wounded.
Affected family remains affected,
And in Tamil, "Patta Kaalileye Padum,
Similarly, "Ketta Kudiye Kedum."

This proverb was true in one case,
Echammal's pathetic case it was.
One after another tragedy she met,
That affected very much her heart.

Hardly when she was 25 years,
One sad day, she lost her husband.
Soon after this, her only son died.
Shortly, her only daughter also died.

On pilgrimage, she went round.
That didn't pacify her mind.
Also she served many Sadhus,
But she felt, it was of no use.

She practiced yoga also then.
That didn't relieve her pain.
In 1906, the tragedies she told
To Ramana, what all she faced.

He used to take things easy,
But after hearing her story,
He felt too much pity for her,
And restored confidence in her.

Thereafter to serve Maharishi,
She stayed at Tiruvannamalai,
She also entertained many sadhus
Giving them free food and shelters.

In her thirty eight years,
She faced many hurdles,
But with her mental ability,
She maintained her stability.

Her desire to do "Laksharchanai"
To him with a lakh of tender leaves
Did not complete in summer
For want of tender leaves

When she told Maharishi
He asked her to cut her flesh
And offer it to the picture,
As he meant it as a stricture.

He disliked her daily worship
Thus causing plants hardship
As one day, these tender leaves
Would support plants as big leaves.

For the strength of a plant,
He showed more interest,
Than what she would get
By offering them at his feet.

On the day of her death,
She first offered him food,
And after that only she died.
Thus she had a blessed death.