The enclosed story has been narrated by V Ganesan in his book: The Human Gospel of Ramana Maharshi.
When Maharshi Ramana was a young ascetic, for sometime he was residing at the Arunaigirinathar temple. There crowds of people began to harass him. They could not understand why Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was seated in samadhi all the time. When Palani Swami (an elderly man who became Maharshi’s disciple) wasn‘t present, they would disturb him.
Palani Swami noticed a small knoll called Pavalakundru, and moved Bhagavan there. Throughout Palani Swami’s relationship with Bhagavan, he was always in the background because his duty was to preserve the physical vehicle of Bhagavan and see that his deep samadhi state was not disturbed. He never interfered with the other activities of Bhagavan.
Gradually, word of Bhagavan spread throughout the town, and a few people started gathering at Pavalakundru, as well. Palaniswami went in search of another place and noticed the Virupaksha cave on the hill. Bhagavan later on said, “When we went to Virupaksha cave for the first time, there was nothing there except an earthen pot.”
After a while, Bhagavan moved further up the hill to Skandashram, the higher cave. Palani Swami spent a few days there. But due to old age, he became weak and could not climb up the hill to the Ashram.
With Bhagavan‘s permission, he stayed on at (the lower) Virupaksha cave. Every day, Bhagavan would come and spend time with Palani Swami. One day while in Skandashram, Bhagavan noticed a peacock flying up from Virupaksha cave, making abnormal noises.
He immediately rushed, saying, “This is the end of Palani Swami.” When he reached Virupaksha cave, Palani Swami was already breathing very hard. Like a son, Bhagavan kept Palani Swami‘s head on his lap until he dropped the body.
(In Hindu tradition, when the father dies, the son must keep the father‘s head on his lap as his final duty. According to the scriptures, if a father gets such an opportunity, he will go to heaven.)
For years, Palani Swami had selflessly served his Master. Now it was time for this “Nandi” (the sacred bull who guards Shiva) to return to Arunachala, the silent abode of God.
