The strange dream many people had

Tiru was still rubbing his eyes. Om and Aruna had not yet woken up. It was still early when someone knocked on the door.
Mum Lioness almost missed a heart beat.

She peered out and had the surprise of her life. It was young Annamalai Swami. She so wanted to fall at his dear feet and never let them go, but she knew he would be embarrassed. It was one thing when the cubs lay at his feet, and quite another when a grown up lioness did so. She said Namaste to him and invited him in.

Tiru immediately dove for his feet. Om and Aruna with eyes still closed followed suit. He lifted them up and kissed them one by one. "I have something important to discuss with you, Mum Lioness" he said.
She understood and came out of the cave so that the cubs could not hear.
Annamalai Swami then narrated to her that he had had a strange dream. Bhagavan had come to him in the dream and talked about Tiruswami. He was quite sure it was Tiruswami and not one of the others he spoke of. Mum Lioness stole a look back at the cave to ensure that no one could hear.
No doubt Tiru swami had done something very naughty like perhaps frighten Flora, or some other devotees. Or maybe Flora had spread some rumors in the cave about Tiru doing something he had not done.

Annamalai continued. Bhagavan has never come to me to tell me such a thing before, so i am a bit surprised. Mum Lioness wished Annamalai Swami could get over with it quickly. Is it like his birthday one of these days, asked Annamalai Swami.
"Oh yes, it is!"
Well, that's what it seems Bhagavan was saying to me. And so i got these mangoes with me. They are all i could find as a gift. Mum Lioness took them from his hand and kissed the fruit.
They are the kinds you can make a good pickle out of, he explained.
Tiru swami who had heard every word of their conversation came bursting out and leapt into Annamalai Swami's arms.
But before Annamalai Swami could say anything there was another knock on the door.
Mum Lioness froze!

Sri Muruganar stood at the door, a little nervous, and said that he had had a strange dream. The cubs pulled him in before he could explain. Then another knock.

"Excuse me! We are the Subramaniams from Salem. We had this dream in which Bhagavan told us that it that it was one Tiru swami's birthday. Is that right? Could we come in and greet the swami?"
Boy!, thought Mum Lioness, is she in for a shock when she finds out that Tiru is a tiny lion cub!

"Excuse me. We are the Nairs from Nellore. We had a strange dream --"
"Murthy's from Mammalapuram. We had this drea --"
"Elefinks from Villupuram. We had --"
"We are the mongooses from Madras. We --"
The cave was filling up. She looked out once more and realized that the entire hill was chock-a-block full with people who had come from near and far to greet Tiru. Most did not even know who Tiru was (except for residents of the Arunachala Hill).

Knock. Knock. "Sunderajans from Bangalore"

All of them had had a strange dream. Some had taken the overnight bus from Bangalore (like the Krishnans and the Rangans) or other distant places, some had come by train (like the Aiyers and the Pillais). Some had walked miles (like the Lakshmanans and Gurumurthys), asking directions from bewildered bystanders.

Some had reached the hill and then followed the crowd to the cave. Those who knew of the young swami on the hill first went and had a darshan of Bhagavan and then got directed here.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, Flora had two minds about returning to the mansion. But she had to collect her things, and also let her sister Fiona know that "things" had changed quite a bit -- that "things" would never be the same again.

She stepped into the mansion. It was a surprise that all these followers of MiracleSwami (or was it Swami MiracleAnanda?) could breath in here. I feel free at last, she thought.

Some of the followers came running up to her. Some were actually very nice people, she thought and felt she might miss them. The Ranganathans for example, were deep in debt. They had been promised that their debts would be cleared by Swami K's (earlier Swami K) grace, if they served him with devotion. And last week Swami K asked them to take a loan of a hundred thousand rupees and give that as a donation for his temple. That would bring them untold grace, he had assured.
The followers asked Flora, Miracleananda Maharaj has been mentioning the cubs and lions and one Spotty with some anger. Who are they? Tell us.

She thought of them and felt better instantly. Perhaps she could go and ask them for help. They looked quite nice. But it was Mum Lioness who really frightened her with her stern face. And she sort of looked thirty feet tall.

They are a family living on the other side of the hill, Flora told the followers.
Where did they come from and when?
Little is known of where they come from.
But Maharaja told us that you have spied on them a lot and know all about them.
Well, they have come from quite a distance. But only Bhagavan knows the details.
Bhagavan does?, they asked.
Oops, she thought. Flora had meant Bhagavan Ramana and not MiracleAnanda who also wanted to be known as Bhagavan.
It seems that the cubs and Mum Lioness came at about the same time as Spotty. In fact, people say that for quite some time they lived as neighbirds not knowing they were living next to one another. Stripes was definitely the first to come here. Later came Spotty and the Lionses. But no one knows which of them came first and where they came from.

One follower suggested, we must speak with them and make them followers of Maharaja MiracleAnanda.

Flora quickly took care of that. Actually, long ago, there was a sadhu named Jadaswami here. MiracleAnanda was one of his followers.
Really? But Maharaja told us he never had a guru and was born enlightened.
"He was known as Krackaswami then, and served Jadaswami.
At that time, Stripes had come around to see Jadaswami. He came a few times and was so taken in by the young swami, that he became a follower of the young swami.
He did encounter Swami K at that time, and there is no way that Stripes will ever even consider ... (she left the rest incomplete). During those days, there was even another sadhu, named (i think) Balanandaswami, who followed Jagaswami and Swami K quite a bit. He knows all these details. But he left too.
Some say he too became a devotee of the young swami on the hill. "

But we should try to atleast get the Lionses to a deeksha. If they attend surely they will know that our Maharaj is the true God.

Flora smiled weakly. She did not want to tell the followers about the cub-nappings. They would have to grow and learn themselves. Lord, if you have brought them here, then it is for a reason, she thought. I have said more than enough. Now i should quietly exit.

As she picked up her things and went to the door, she told what she hoped would be her last lie. I am going to my cousin's wedding for a week, and from there to Rishikesh for a while.
All the followers hugged her. Flora felt very sad leaving them like this.

Mr. Ranganathan (the one in debt) followed her out of the door alone. You are leaving us for good, are you not, Flora?
Yes, she said honestly. He shook his head slowly and sadly.
My wife is very sad about various things, but she feels quite relieved here, he said. I am doing all this only for her. For her peace of mind.
Flora nodded. In her heart she wished them the very best.
She put her right paw on her heart and said "Namaste".

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Happy Birthday, little Tiru Swami, from all the people of Tiruvannamalai !