Mouna Swami on Arunachala hill

IN TOWN, news was spreading of a mouna swami who had arrived at the hill and was giving darshan. It was said that he maintained silence (mouna) and occasionally spoke through gestures or writing on slips of paper.
Poeple began trooping over to the hill for a darshan.

HERE at the caves, Mum Liones had her paws full taking care of all the displaced animals. She had made countless idlis and rotis for the animals and she still seemed to be on a roll.

Visitors for the displaced animals

Through the corner of her eye she saw many animals walking over towards their cave. Oh another round of displaced animals, she thought. Then recognizing one, she realized that these were animals from a side of the Arunachala Hill that had not faced demolition by the Swami K group. She guessed that they must be coming over to visit and comfort their displaced friends.
And so she put a big pot of water on the stove for tea.
There was not enough tea leaves left in her storeroom for so many but she knew that Bhagavan Ramana would take care of all the guests somehow.

After a while she noticed that a line had formed outside Meditator Tiger's cave and there was a lot of talk going on among them. She could hear the words "mouna" and "swami" too and sent a young monkey to enquire.

Crowds accumulate for darshan of Mouna Swami

He came back saying that he had heard from one of them that a mouna swami is sitting in the next cave and they have come for darshan. They will not go without darshan.
They are not believing that there is no swami there. One said they have come from afar, and they are willing to wait as long as it takes for a darshan.

Mum called out to Tiru, then Aruna then Om but no response came. They too were in the next cave. The monkey brought Tiru back.

Tirucub was very excited. He spoke to Mum breathlessly. Mum, I have some bad news for you.
Mum went pale. She had not recovered yet from the adventures of the previous days and was in no mood for any more. "It's about Unca Stripes."
Mum Lioness went paler.
Tiru explained that Unca Stripes had done too much dish-washing the previous day and was totally washed out. His tongue muscles were sore.
So what's the big deal with this crowd and all, asked Mum impatiently.
Don't you get it, Mum? asked Tiru incredulously.
No, be quick. i can't wait all day.
Unca Stripes is unable to talk! His tongue is, you know, tired from washing dishes.
A doctor among the monkeys said it may take a day, maybe two for Unca to be able to talk.

Stripes shows tongue to doctor

Mum went even paler. A whole day without Stripes talking!
Tiru: But look at the bright side, Mum. we won't have to hear Unca sing!

Anyway, he is able to answer, he is writing on slips of paper or gesticulating. We've been telling all these people to leave as Stripes is no silent jnani. He's just a tongue-tied tiger.
But they still insist on a darshan. A peek if nothing else. They are just not budging.

Mum: Well, take him some more buttermilk and make sure you don't spill any while squeezing it through the dropper.
Yes, Mum.

Stripes, the dish-washer, takes a day off

The cubs had been having a great time all morning feeding Stripes endless rounds of buttermilk through a dropper and licking off what was spilling. Stripes lay on his back enjoying the attention.

Mum speaks to crowd

Mum Lioness went out and explained the situation to all. They looked cheated. However, she said, since you have all come from afar, please have tea before leaving. And if anyone is hungry we could steam up some iddlis if you can wait a bit. But please understand that for darshans you must go to the young swami on the hill. He is there. (she said pointing towards Virupaksha Cave).

She then came in to prepare tea and iddlies.
Stripes was enjoying himself. He was "off-duty" today and being attended on by the cubs. But this mouna swami business had been a nuisance on an otherwise poafict day. Oh, there was the other fact that he could not eat.

Then one hippo noticed someone distributing pamphlets to the crowd and told the cubs. Om took a peek and shouted, "Flora! Flora!"

Tiru ran out to check and picked up a pamphlet. The pamphlet had "Instant Enlightenment" written over it with details of a deeksha program at the mansion. The deeksha would also result in abounding miracles in the lives of participants.

Flora, the goat, then saw Tiru cub approaching and ran for her life.