Friday, February 23, 2001
After the evening interview, Swami gave Padanamaskar to devotees from Italy and Visakhapatnam. Then Swami came to the third block. Swami enquired from Prof. Anil Kumar about a teacher from the Brindavan Campus.
Swami : What is his name?
Prof. A. K. : Sunderasan, Swami. (Dr. C. N. Sundaresan, an alumnus from Swami’s Institute and currently, Faculty Member, Department of Chemistry, Brindavan Campus.)
Swami : Whose husband? (Swami would always joke about Dr. Sundaresan, a bachelor, as Meenakshi’s husband.)
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| Lord Sundaresan and Goddess Meenakshi at Madurai |
Prof. A. K. : Meenakshi Sundaram. (Consort of Goddess Meenakshi in the Madurai temple in the state of Tamil Nadu is called Sundaresan.)
Swami : For Vishveshwara (In Kashi)?
Prof. A. K. : Kashi Vishalakshi. (The consort of Lord Vishveshwara at Kashi.)
(Editor’s Note: As per Indian culture and tradition, all the Shiva or Shakti temples in India, are always worshipped as a pair – Shiva and Shakti. So, for example, the Jyotirlinga at Kashi worshipped as Lord Vishveshwara also has the temple of Goddess Vishalakshi, His consort. And the Shakti Peetham of Goddess Meenakshi in Madurai, has the temple of Her Lord – Sundaresan.)
Swami asked a student to speak. In the course of his speech, he said that it was Swami’s burden to clean our hearts. Swami corrected him.
Swami : Cleaning your heart is your responsibility. Actually heart is pure. There is no need to clean it. If you remove desires and ego, that is enough.
Student : Swami, we will try our best.
Swami : There is no question of trying. You have to do it.
Then Swami commanded another student and teacher to speak. After the teacher’s speech, Swami materialised a ring for him. Swami asked the teacher to chant Vedam. Students also joined him in the chanting. Swami also chanted with all. Then Swami asked a few students to chant individually. Some chanted confidently while a few fumbled in the middle.
Prof. A. K. : Swami, if You ask them to chant individually, they will get afraid.
Swami : Why stage fear? (To Prof. Anil Kumar) Do you know Vedam?
Prof. A. K. : Swami, I did not study here.
Swami : But you studied in Guntur.
Prof. A. K. : Swami, I know a few things from the Bible.
Warden : Swami, one boy is ready to speak in Hindi.
Swami called the student and asked him to speak. After that Swami went back to the interview room.
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