Post by audhitya on May 18, 2012 21:09:50 GMT 5.5
Source: In the Presence of the Divine
Narratives of experiences with Maha Periyaval � Volume 1
Translated by: Sujatha Vijayaraghavan
A lady had no support except her son. The young man was afflicted by a skin disease that spread rapidly all over his body. He had an itching sensation everywhere. If he scratched himself, the skin would crack and start bleeding, leaving large patches of bruises. The mother could not bear her son’s suffering. She came straight to Periyava and narrated her woes.
“My son must be cured by Periyava’s grace. I know no other refuge, nor can I afford to give him medical treatment.â€
Periyava told the lady and her son to stay on in the Matha. He instructed the boy not to eat or drink anything- no coffee, tea or milk even-except what was given as left-over from his own meal. The lady accepted the instruction in great joy.
Periyava gave certain instructions in the kitchen, which were not to be altered until he said so. His bhiksa consisted only of the inner stem of the banana tree. The attendant who cooked his meal would add a little salt to it and boil it after cutting it into pieces.
Periyava would accept this in bhiksa and drink some buttermilk. The remaining portion of the boiled banana stem and buttermilk would be given to the boy. He felt unhappy and tired of the diet at first. But reminding himself that it was ucchista from Periyava he took it gladly.
Ten days later the itching and the darkness of the skin began to subside. As the days passed, the skin was rid of its infection and it became clear and healthy. When forty days passed, the skin regained its perfect health and the boy looked radiant. The mother of the boy was delighted beyond words.
“Who can boast of such fortune! I thought my son had been afflicted by this disease because of the sins of the past. Now I know that it was the merit of the good deeds of the past that gave him the infection. Who could ever have the good fortune of eating the left-overs of Periyava’s meal for forty days at a stretch?†She could not adequately express her joy.
“It was all because of the great medicinal good of the banana stem†said Periyava.
“The banana stem was only an excuse! It was all because of Periyava’s ucchista†said the lady with heartfelt gratitude.
Narratives of experiences with Maha Periyaval � Volume 1
Translated by: Sujatha Vijayaraghavan
A lady had no support except her son. The young man was afflicted by a skin disease that spread rapidly all over his body. He had an itching sensation everywhere. If he scratched himself, the skin would crack and start bleeding, leaving large patches of bruises. The mother could not bear her son’s suffering. She came straight to Periyava and narrated her woes.
“My son must be cured by Periyava’s grace. I know no other refuge, nor can I afford to give him medical treatment.â€
Periyava told the lady and her son to stay on in the Matha. He instructed the boy not to eat or drink anything- no coffee, tea or milk even-except what was given as left-over from his own meal. The lady accepted the instruction in great joy.
Periyava gave certain instructions in the kitchen, which were not to be altered until he said so. His bhiksa consisted only of the inner stem of the banana tree. The attendant who cooked his meal would add a little salt to it and boil it after cutting it into pieces.
Periyava would accept this in bhiksa and drink some buttermilk. The remaining portion of the boiled banana stem and buttermilk would be given to the boy. He felt unhappy and tired of the diet at first. But reminding himself that it was ucchista from Periyava he took it gladly.
Ten days later the itching and the darkness of the skin began to subside. As the days passed, the skin was rid of its infection and it became clear and healthy. When forty days passed, the skin regained its perfect health and the boy looked radiant. The mother of the boy was delighted beyond words.
“Who can boast of such fortune! I thought my son had been afflicted by this disease because of the sins of the past. Now I know that it was the merit of the good deeds of the past that gave him the infection. Who could ever have the good fortune of eating the left-overs of Periyava’s meal for forty days at a stretch?†She could not adequately express her joy.
“It was all because of the great medicinal good of the banana stem†said Periyava.
“The banana stem was only an excuse! It was all because of Periyava’s ucchista†said the lady with heartfelt gratitude.