Published Date: Feb 21, 2013
In connection with the 12th death anniversary of Yogi Sri
Ramsuratkumar, an ascetic of Tiruvannamalai, a biography titled ‘Bhagawan Yogi Ramsuratkumar Saritham’
was released recently.
The Tamil book on the eminent spiritual guru and his teachings is
authored by noted Tamil writer Balakumaran.
Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1918 – 2001), hailed as ‘God Child of
Tiruvannamalai’, was a mystic saint. Several devotees consider him as a ‘Siddha Purushar’ (a mystic) in the
tradition of Saivite Siddhars of Tamil Nadu.
He came to Tiruvannamalai at a later stage of his life and exhorted
people to turn inward for spiritual enlightenment. Fondly called as Visiri Saamiyaar in Tamil, he carried
palm leaves and used it as a hand-held fan.
Whenever devotees went to him, he always stunned them by saying “I am
a beggar.” He lived like a beggar indeed. Attired in simple clothing, he always
used to sport a coconut shell in his hand. He used to wear a green shawl and reside
in a hut. Devotees considered all these as spiritual messages. His simple
message to the world was ‘looking inward is the way to enlightenment’.
Balakumaran, a noted writer of many popular novels like Irumbu Kuthiraigal, Mercury Pookkal, Ezhil,
Udaiyaar, Gangai Konda Cholan among others, came to know about
Ramsuratkumar some three decades ago.
At first, when Balakumaran met Ramsuratkumar, he got bitter
experience, since the yogi was not willing to see him. But through his repeated
efforts, he got introduced to the saint and became his disciple and is said to
have got enlightenment through the yogi’s spiritual touch.
In memory of Ramsuratkumar who died on 20th February 2001, Balakumaran
has written this biography about the yogi and it has been brought out by Visa
Publications. It was released by the end of 2012 coinciding with his 94th birth
anniversary celebrations.
The book has been written based on the details put briefly in the book
Amarakaviyam written by the yogi’s
devotee Parthasarathy and Balakumaran’s own experiences with the yogi. The book
brings smiles on the faces of the yogi’s devotees, since many of them know
little about the life of Ramsuratkumar. According to many devotees, the book is
also a spiritual guide.
“Ramsuratkumar was born as Ramsurat Kunwar in Nardara, a small village
along the stretches of river Ganges. After his
intermediate education, he went in search of spiritual enlightenment. Hence, he
visited three important saints of South India
—Ramana Maharishi in Tiruvannamalai, Sri Aurobindo in Puducherry and Papa
Ramdas in Kerala. But, due to his mundane duties Ramsurat Kunwar was unable to
became a disciple at his young age,” says Balakumaran, in the book.
He further narrates, “He was in deep search of spiritual
enlightenment. But he didn’t forsake his worldly duties for that, nor did he go
to forests or caves. He didn’t practise Brahmacharya
(celibacy). While he worked as a teacher in a high school, he also
continued his search for god. He lived as a normal person and led a normal
life.”
After he attained enlightenment in Tiruvannamalai, he came to Adyar
Theosophical Society and was introduced to an European, Truman Caylor
Wadlington, there. Wadlington wrote the first book about the yogi titled ‘Yogi
Ramsuratkumar – The God Child, Tiruvannamalai’.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express
