Uncle Annamalai narrates the story

The cubs were quite insistent with Uncle Annamalai Swamy. They wanted to hear about the time when Uncle Stripes fell at Uncle Annalamai's feet.

Uncle Annamalai tried hard to convince the cubs to ask Mum Lioness or Unca Stripes himself but the cubs were adamant. They had taken up their positions on his lap and were looking up at him expectantly.


And so he tried remembering the details, laughing as they came back to him. He said:

"I had seen this devotee a few times. Sitting quietly here and there, very shy, not speaking to anyone. One day as I was standing outside he came up. His eyes were focussed on me. I felt a slight fear, after all, this devotee was a seven foot long tiger, not counting the tail.

(He tickled a cub ear or two as he spoke)

But he was clearly making his way for me. I then thought, why be afraid, I have surrendered my life to Bhagavan, let Him handle it as He wishes. The tiger came closer and closer and then he lunged for my feet. Truth to tell, my heart stopped beating for a moment.


The tiger refused to move. I carefully put my hands down and lifted his face a bit. He looked into my eyes and I could see devotion in them, devotion for Arunachala. There was complete harmlessness in those eyes. I tried to lift him but it was quite clear that he had no intention of getting up!

I told him Bhagavan is in the hall, I pointed to the hall, but he just looked up at me as though he wished to stay planted at my feet forever. He even kissed my feet a bit.

He tried to communicate with me but I could not understand. Finally he did get up, very reluctantly and walked to the hall.

Later after lunch when I lay at Bhagavan's Feet not wanting to get up, I remembered the devotee and for a moment thought that that is how he lay at my feet. Bhagavan told me about Uncle Stripes then."

The cubs insisted that Uncle Annamalai tell them what Bhagavan said about Uncle Stripes. Swamy then told them that Bhagavan said that Stripes was a devotee from far away, but he had been with Bhagavan earlier, and had now returned. He loved Bhagavan's devotees and would touch their feet as though they were Bhagavan's own feet. He would serve devotees as though he was serving Bhagavan.

Over the years, Annamalai Swamy told them, he saw that Uncle Stripes has great love for him, and Andavane and all the other devotees.

Uncle Stripe reminisces

Mum Lioness was looking for some special herbs for making a batch of Broccoli Bunches. She had confided in the cubs that the herbs would help the Hippo family lose weight and be healthier. And they made the Brocolli Bunch a lot tastier.

And so the cubs, getting a tad bored, came over to Unca Stripes. The cubs were insisting that Unca Stripes tell them something funny.


Unca Stripes thought for a long while and then started laughing. He could hardly contain himself. Finally, he managed to start talking.

"Several years ago, when our dear Annamalai Swamy was busy looking after the construction work at the ashram, I went over to have his darshan. Knowing how much and how lovingly he serves Bhagavan, I wanted so badly for the touch of his feet.

(Uncle Stripes' eyes were filled with love as he thought of Annamalai Swamy)

I saw him in the distance, and my heart stopped for a minute. Bhagavan was inside at that time. I ran upto Annamalai Swamy and fell at this feet. Just as I was kissing his dear feet, he began pulling me up. He was pointing to the hall where Bhagavan was sitting. He thought that I had mistaken him for Bhagavan!
He kept pointing at the hall, and I kept trying to tell him that it was his blessings I wanted.

(At this stage, Unca Stripes did not know whether to laugh or cry, so he did a bit of both)

How could Annamalai Swami ever understand how indebted we are to him for serving Bhagavan with such love, and believing Bhagavan to be his own and true father. How could I convey to him that the feet of the servant of the Lord, are as dear and beloved and full of grace as the Feet of the Lord Himself.

(The cubs were wide-eyed, imagining the scene of Uncle Annamalai and Stripes misunderstanding each other!)

I wanted to tell him that Bhagavan does not let us touch His Feet, at least you have mercy on us and let us touch yours."

* * *
Then the cubs heard a rustle outside, it was Mum Lioness telling them it was time to take Uncle Annalamali's lunch to him. And for the cubs that meant getting to sit on Uncle Annamalai's lap and sometimes having a nap by his feet while he meditated.

The cubs were thinking they would ask Uncle Annamalai his version of the above story when they met him today.

Uncle Annamalai visits the site

Mum Lioness returned from a morning darshan to find the cave strangely quiet. She thought she might stroll over to the building site and see what was happening.

When she reached the site, she found all the animals putting bricks together with some sludgy material for bonding them. Then she noticed someone walking up from the corner of her eyeses.

Sri Annamalai Swamy! "Cubs!", she called out.
The cubses gathered around Uncle Annamalai. He told them, I have been thinking for a long time about something, but now suddenly the design has come into place in my mind. It all popped in last night in my sleep. Do you think you could help me out?

Tiru gladly nodded his head, even though he knew that they were on a tight schedule. Om cub brought some sheets of paper and pencils.
Uncle Annalamalai sat down and began to draw. He drew perfectly, not requiring an eraser at all, almost as though he had made this design many times. After a few minutes, Aruna cub asked, "Uncle, what is this strange thing?"


Uncle Annalamalai put down the pencil and looked into the distance. "For a long time I have been dreaming of a gadget but could not get the mechanics correct in my mind. I think I finally have a blueprint for a Magic Idle Machine."
"A WHAT ?? !!!" the cubses shouted in unison.

"Bear with me a while", he said. "You see --- this here is what I am calling a solar panel, it collects energy from the sun to make the idlis, and this thingie here collects water vapor and condenses it to water, and this --"
The cubs looked a little downcast.
"But what's the magic about it? This is all science!", said Tiru cub.
"Wait, i haven't finished! You don't need to put any ingredients into it at all. You just press this green button here and it starts making a dozen idlis a minute. And if you press that red button --"
"-- then it stops?", asked Om cub.
"Yes"



The cubs were overjoyed but then they had a quick conference of their own and Tiru spoke, "We like the idea but there is one glaring issue!"
"You see", continued Aruna,"12 idlis a minute will not be enough for our hippos and rhinos and elefinks and other workers!"

"Oh, this is just a prototype!", explained Uncle Annamalai. "Once you cubses get this working, we will make another one in which all measurements are just multiplied by 4. And we can make one for each floor of the hospital if you want! Any other objections?"
The cubses looked at one another but could think of none.

"Now I must go!" said Annamalai Swamy. "There is one more machine I have been wanting to invent, perhaps now some ideas will start coming!"



Mum Lioness and the cubses looked at Uncle Annamalai as he walked away into the distance. For a long time they kept looking in that direction.

Spotty shares a secret !!

Spotty woke up early this morning. He went bouncing over to the Lions cave. The door was locked. No problem he thought as he used the secret passageway. Only he and the cubses knew about it.

The cubses were farst asleep in Mum Lionesses arms. All four of them were purring away, they sounded like an orchestra! One was draped over Mum Lioness like he had been put out to dry.



He tickled them softly and whispered in their ears. One by one they got up. "I have a BIG secret to share with you!".

Mum Lioness sleeps while cubs follow Spotty

All three looked at him wide-eyed. They gave one look back at Mum Lioness, who was completing the symphony on her own. A great solo performance. It was safe.

Spotty brought them out of the cave. Om asked "Are you going to tell us the secret of how you are always six months old."
"No"
"How Unca Stripes found you?" asked Aruna cub with ascitement.
"Nope"
"About how you defeated the troll once?" asked Tirucub after much thinking.
"No, again"
"About the troublesome sadhus ?? " "Balaswami?" ...

Spotty realized he was about to lose their interest, so he quickly continued.
I have for sometime been meeting someone.
The cubses eyeses opened wide.
Before they could start their guessing game he went on.
"I go over once a week to him. We meditate together. He lives a reclusive life now."
Spotty started walking towards the asram.
"Wait a bit", i would like you to see him.
"I have been telling him about you three for some time. He has been listening with interest. He has been asking to meet you. But you went off camping."
"Uncle Muruganar?"
"Nope, can't you fellers wait without guessing?"
"Uncle Andavane?"
"No. and its not Uncle Kunjuswami either, or Uncle Nayana or ..."
"Ok", they said meekly, resigned to having to wait.

They then took the path away from the ashram to the Sadhu colony.
"Oh I know.", screamed Omcub "Unca Chadwick!"
"NOOOOO", said Spotty triumphantly, "You have been unable to guess, and we're ommst there, so hold it will ya?"

They neared a hut. There was sound of a broom swishing the floor. Some one looked out of the hut on hearing the ascited squeals of the cubses. The person was thin, and quite dark, with a very pleasant face.
Spotty smiled with delight. The three cubs looked with amazement their jaws dropping till they ommst touched the ground.
The person grinned with obvious joy and welcomed them in. All four cubses threw themselves on his feet like they were raiders falling upon a heap of diamonds.

The person lifted them up one by one and kissed them. "You must be Arunacub" he said recognizing the torban. "And you definitely are Omcub," he said tussling his long hair (almost grown back to original length after that awful lice infestation). "Tirucub" he said hugging Tiru who could not conceal his delight.

"We have seen you so often" Tiru said, "in the earlier days."
"I remember well" replied the person "I once stole a glass of water drunk by Bhagavan to you when you were this tiny". He bent down to knee height to show how small Tiru was then.
"Did you?" Tiru asked in amazement, a little sad that he could not recollect the incident.
"You were the first person to sip water drunk by Bhagavan at lunch?"
Tiru glowed with pride to know this.

"Mum Lioness has told us all about you, Sir." the cubs said, " About all the buildings you have constructed here."
"Perhaps you will take us around yourself some day and show us yourself." implored Omcub in his most impossible-to-refuse cutesy voice.
The person did not answer, there was a sad look in his eyes.

Spotty told the cubs "Uncle does not go to the ashram now. Bhagavan has told him to concentrate on meditation."

As he said that the person looked up at the hut door. The cubs swivelled around instantly and gasped.
Standing at the door was Bhagavan. Bhagavan said, "Oho! Annamalai swami, whom do you have here today?"

Bhagavan on Arunachala Hill

Before Annamalai Swamy could answer Bhagavan asked, "What were you asking, Omcub?"
Om cub gulped. His voice would not come out. Arunacub opened his mouth but had lost his voice, too.
Tiru somehow managed to squawk, "Bhagavan, we were asking Uncle Annalamai if he would take us around the ashram and show us what all he has constructed."
"Well, if he won't, I certainly will", replied Bhagavan.

Then Bhagavan added, "Tomorrow bring along Mum Lioness and Unca Stripes. I will show you the wonders Annamalai Swamy has created."

Saying so Bhagavan continued on his walk.
The cubs were speechless. No one knew what to say.
Presently Omcub found his voice. He couldn't wait to tell Mum Lioness.

They kissed Uncle Annamalai's hands. It was impossible to tear themselves apart from him. Then they sensed that Mum Lioness would be getting up anytime. Uncle Annamalai said, "Next time you come without Mum Lioness, do tell her first so she doesn't worry."
He gave the cubs some nuts to munch on the way back.

"Can we tell Mum Lioness this secret?" Om asked as they came out of the hut.
Spotty nodded vigorously (not wanting to tell them that she knew about this beforehand). The cubs scampered home ascitedly each wanting to be the first to tell Mum Lioness.

As they approached home, they detected a heavenly aroma. All four burst into the kitchen sniffing and smacking their lips.

"Annamalai cakes!", announced Mum Lioness, "With maple syrup. And Spotty's favorite berry shakes."