Satsang A BRIEF LIFE SKETCH OF GURUDEV H. H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI

Sri B. V. Narasimha Iyer became a prominent figure in the
public life of Madras. His lectures drew large crowds. He was
the first leader to conceive the idea of mass contact and visit
the rural area to create the political awakening of the masses.
Later on the Congress Working Committee adopted it in a
nation wide scale. Sri B. V. Narasimha lyer and Mr. George
Joseph were asked to impress the liberals, who were contesting
the election in Britain.
Their purpose was to stress the grant of political freedom of India.
They sailed by the cape route to evade observation at Suez Canal.
When the authorities came to know it, they arrested Narasimha
Iyer and George Joseph in Gibralter and sent them back to India.

TURN IN LIFE

In 1921, Sri B. V. Narasimha Iyer decided to give up his legal
practice and withdraw from political and social activities following
a series of domestic calamities. Two of his children Jayaram and
Savitri, who were playing in the garden, accidentally fell into the
well and were drowned. This was a great shock to him and it took
nearly 4 years to subside, though he could not overcome from the
grief completely. Meanwhile he had educated the other sons and
made them stand on their own legs and live on their income. His
surviving daughters Rajalakshmi and Sharadamai had already
been married and settled in life decently. He freed himself from
his domestic duties and also his commitments in his professional
work. He then gave up his practice. He also retired from political
and social work. Finally, after completing the work connected with
the Lakshmi Narayana temple, he left home in 1925 to search for
a Sadguru, who alone could make him understand the mystery of
life.

SEARCH FOR A SADGURU

In 1925, Sri B. V. Narasimha met Jagatguru H. H. Narasimha
Bharati and sought his advice. The Acharya directed him to enter
vanaprastha (dweller in the woods, which means post house holder's
life) and begin his quest for a Sadguru in Ramanasraman at
Tiruvannamalai. Ramana Maharishi had composed hymns on the
Lord of Arunachala (Lord Shiva). B.V.N. Swamiji stayed in
Tiruvannamalai for 3 years. After getting Sri Ramana Maharishi's
blessings and permission, Narasimha Swamiji went to Pandharpur
to worship Lord Vitthal. He wrote the biography of Ramana Maharishi,
the sage of Arunachala, with the title 'Self Realisation'. Till then,
Ramana Maharishi's value was appreciated and profiled by a limited
circle. Swamiji's quick and intellectual perception, his deep debt of
gratitude to Maharishi resulted in the publication of 'Self Realisation',
through which he made Ramana Maharishi known everywhere to a
larger number of people with religious pursuits. Ramana Maharishi
attained Mahasamadhi on 14lh April, 1950.

Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all
to be contd...
- Sai Mani R. Jayamani
Madras, Tamil Nadu.
(As appeared in Shri Sai Leela May - June 1993)

Source : http://saileelas.org/articles.htm