Head clerk-Periyavaa

Experiences with Maha Periyava: The God who saved my life

Since I was residing in Kanchipuram, I could get Sri Maha Periyava's darshan daily. Once when SriMatham organised an Aradhana, for some reason, the required number of vaideekas were not available. So, Sri Maha Periyava nominated and made me partake in the Aradhana along with the other vaideekas. After the bhojanam finished, He called and instructed me to do Gayatri Japam for a thousand times in order to compensate for my participation in the Aradhana the previous day. I complied with his orders.

I was transferred to the Courts in Chengalpat District. Following the transfer, Sri Periyaval's darshan became fewer and far between for me. So on Anusham, every month, I would go to Kanchipuram, have the trishathi archana performed at the 

Sri Kamakshi temple and then offering the prasadam to Sri Maha Periyava and receive his darshan. On one such occasion when I went to SriMatham it was very crowded. I waited outside the place where devotees received darshan. All of a sudden Sri Maha Periyava instructed the attendant nearby, "Call the Shreshtidar!"

Some people called out, "Shreshtidar, Shreshtidar!" towards the crowd. Somebody took me and made me stand before Sri Maha Periyava and said, "There is no Shreshtidar, only a head clerk from the Court". 

I told Sri Maha Periyava, "I am not a Shreshtidar, only a head clerk."

But Sri Maha Periyava was insistent and asked, "Why, can you not become a Shreshtidar?"

I too, was firm in my reply. "I do not have the qualifications. I have completed only S.S. L.C., the school-finals examination. There are others, my juniors, who have B.A., B.L, M.A., B.L and other such degrees in law. On the basis of educational qualifications, I have no claims whatsoever. Besides the District Judge on bench is a very strict man and will certainly not recommend my name. So I can never be promoted as Shreshtidar". I was as clear as possible in my reply. Sri Maha Periyava then gave me leave to depart. 

After a few days, some people came on inspection from the Chennai High Court. They assessed my performance and submitted a confidential report to the judge in the High Court, recommending my promotion as Shreshtidar. A few days later the order arrived appointing me as Shreshtidar. Everyone was surprised. How could such a thing happen? It was also a big shock to those who believed that promotions were always given only on the basis of educational qualifications. 

Meantime, I went to Kanchipuram for the next Anusha Nakshatram. When I placed Sri Kamakshi Amman prasadam before Sri Maha Periyava, raising and showing me his hand over his head (punning with His gesture on the word, 'Shreshtidar' which literally means 'head or chief'), Sri Maha Periyava asked, "Can I call you Shreshtidar now?" 

I felt a tremor shake my body. I could not speak. All I could do was to prostrate with tear-filled eyes, to the divine incarnation before me, who had issued the order for my promotion. I learnt that day that the divine alone knows of its will. 

Author: P.K.Ramanathan, Chennai

Source: Maha Periyaval - Darisana Anubhavangal Vol. 2, Pages 64-69