Cubs relate their experience at the mansion

They had just finished dinner. It had been two tough days in a row. "Allow me to wash the dishes" offered Stripes.
He then put the dishes and cooking pots in a row and licked each one clean and spotless. Tiru did an inspection by sniffing each one for food traces. All was okay. The dishes were ready for tomorrow's breakfast!

The monkeys then began telling everyone how Bhagavan had been kind with them. Stories of Hobbler did the rounds. The little deer told everyone stories of Valli, a deer Sri Bhagavan had looked after. Junior (Rhino) recounted the incident of the rhinos from Africa, he had read on some blog.

Once again the cubs tried to tell their mother and Unca Stripes what had happened when Flora the little goat had lured them into the mansion where Krackaswami (Krax) was staking out. All the animals became silent.



"So we all ran in behind Spotty"
"It was ommst as though we were pulled in by some strange force" added Om.
"Uncle Krax was ackshlly quite nice with us. He asked us to sit on a couch. We sat. He requested us to listen to him for a while.
He asplained that what he really had in mind was this global enlightenment thing. "

"He is also in on the global enlightenment bandwagon?" asked Stripes with some sarcasm.

What is this global electrification business. Sounds good!

"Krax asplained that he needed funds to build a temple of gold which would have his statue and his energy in it, and it would help enlightenment to spread.
"And his golden throne also", interjected Om.

Listen up cub brudders. We're hitting big time!

As more and more people come to him and accept him as the Lord, their state will deepen and this temple will be able to spread enlightenment faster.
"It sure sounded like a lot of hogwash to me!" commented Arunacub.
"But could be convincing for many people --" countered Tiru.
"Like Flora" said Omcub.
"He then began quoting figures to us, of how many people are benefitting from his grace, and how fast his movement if growing.
"Finally he said, now here is what i need from you all. In order to help humanity, in order to liberate everyone from suffering, i need some help from you."

"We sorta looked at him wide-eyed wondering what help could we cubses possibly give." said Om.
"Like if he asked Unca Stripes for help, or Mum Lioness, we could understand, but US!!" said Spotty.

He said You cubs have sortan siddhis which have come to you by mistake. You need to share them with me, and promise not to use them ever again. As the Lord of the Universe, it is my wish that only I use them.
However, if you decide not to, then global enlightenment will be stalled by about, lets see ... two million years. It all depends on you cubs.

And so we sat there a few moments wondering what to say. For some reason we knew we could not just run out. We had no idea we could even change our shapes or do anything in there. it was awfully suffocating. It was like being controlled.

Then Krax said, take your time ... think it over, tell me when you are ready. And he took us up to the room where he locked us in.

By Golly! The enlightenment of the world depends on us four lickle cubses!

"He told Flora to lock us in with Uncle Jags first. Then he said, NO, we'll put them in elsewhere where no one can find them!", added Arunacub.
He told Flora to take off Arunacub's turban before locking us, so we could not do anything smart while locked up, added Om cub.
Mebbe he wanted to put some charm on the turban, suggested Spotty.

Unca Hobbler: where is this sound coming from?

"Then we saw Uncle Hobbler outside!" said Tiru suddenly.
"Oh yes!" the cubs shouted.
And then they all began to narrate how they were shouting out hoping someone would hear them and they saw Uncle Hobbler outside on the trees. He was cocking his ear as though he could hear something in a distance. But he kept looking around and he could not see us, it seems.

Something funny is going on here! I must go for help.

Flora must have been below our window. We heard her saying that we could be heard outside. Krax replied that with his jinx no one else could hear or see us.

But then they came in, and took us to another room from where there were only some tiny ventilators, no windows. Mebbe facing the back of the mansion.

"One strange thing was .." started Om cub (this got everyone's attention) " ... that while we were there, we were unable to think of Sri Bhagavan. Only much later we suddenly heard Unca Stripes and you shouting out 'Bhagavan' and 'Ramana', that we remembered, and then we again called out to you. We were chanting His name till you came and got us."
"It was like there was a curtain around the mind." said Spotty.
Tiru: "I felt like something was controlling me"
Aruna: "Something dark"
Tiru: "Yeah, dark."

Suddenly they heard a snore. They looked aside to see Unca Stripes falling asleep. The cubs ran around him and took their position around his neck, on his back, on his shoulder...

Tomorrow would be another day, another adventure, another gift from Bhagavan Ramana.

Krackaswami hands down instructions

Back at the mansion, Krackaswami was beside himself.

He shouted on and on at Flora, "Inadequate gifts were brought to me, and that is the cause of today's failure. The universe has let me down! We lost Spotty! And all those little lions! The deeksha was ruined, interrupted! I will not stand for this! Get a laptop. Take notes!"



Flora dashed as fast as her little legs could carry her to get the laptop which Krackaswami had instructed her to use when his profound ideas poured forth. She came back and poised her hoofs above the keys.

"Prostrate at my feet before you receive my divine words! Am i to get NO respect in this wretched realm?"

Flora promptly put her forehead to the floor, leaving it there a good long time so the Lord did not get vexed again.

"Now, get this down carefully. We need to impose some discipline around here! The devotees SAY they are submitted, but how can they be, indulging themselves as they do. First, we will raise the tythes so high they will not have a single rupee left over to spend on toothpaste. Let's go for 25%. And as a back up to that, we will announce the new diet. Water, and 108 blades of grass a day. NO MORE!"

"But Lord of All, some of your bigger devotees will die on that ... and you yourself ... well ...." she bit her tongue, realizing this was not a good avenue to go down.

He went on as if he had not heard. "They must remove all books from their houses except those I deem sacred ... those by me ... my words right now can be the opening chapter of the first book. We must steady their minds with the Truth."

Flora's hooves tapped quickly on the keys.



"All must rise by 4am. Now fix me a steak and a stiff Scotch ... that's not part of the book ... I must purify this realm by taking these toxins into my holy form."

"Is that a kind of toffee? I don't know how to make toffees," said Flora anxiously. Vaguely, she remembered hearing of Scotch toffee.

"Well, now that you mention it, I WOULD like some toffees. But first, my steak and a large STIFF SCOTCH. Scotch is whiskey."

"Lord, I am a vegetarian goat ... for generations ... well since the beginning of goats, I suppose ... and I come from a family of teetotalers."

Krackaswami tipped back his head and began to bellow. The bellowing was so loud and so frightening that Flora forced herself to go out to the kitchen and prepare what Krackaswami had requested. He was still bellowing when she came back in with the tray neatly prepared for him.

"For the sake of the world, we will always refer to what I consume as water and 108 blades of grass," said Krackaswami, finally quieting down.

Flora, though devoted, was easily confused. "You want me to go pick 108 blades of grass?"

"No. NO!! NO!!! What I am telling you is that THIS" and he gestured to what was on his tray, "will always be known as my water and 108 blades of grass."

Flora looked at the tray, bewildered. "You are going to transform that into water and grass?" she asked. "I thought only those cubs had transforming powers ..."



"Oh for heaven's sake!" exploded Kracks. "Have you never told a LIE?! I am telling you to LIE about what I eat ... but it is not really a lie ... it is a very special privilege ... i am going to allow you to sculpt reality with me for the sake of the salvation of the billions of suffering souls ... this is a special form of blessing I grant to those closest to me. It will earn you more merit than all the rest. Now what am I eating here? What am I drinking?"

More merit than all the rest! All her life, Flora had lived in the shadow of Fiona, who was five minutes older. Wouldn't Fiona be green with envy!

"A stiff glass of water, and 108 blades of grass," said Flora, at last catching on.

"Oh, and one more thing," said Krackaswami with his mouth full. "This house is wholly inadequate for my ... our ... needs. We need a large temple, and construction must begin at once. Every one of my followers must contribute well beyond what they imagine they can afford. Now be off with you, while I finish up my water and grass here. Go and tell all my followers that we URGENTLY need a temple. And it rests on their shoulders to pay for it. I cannot sully my divine hoofs with money, so they must provide it all. Even as a youngster, I could not work, because I was destined for greater things. Now, tell them all to take night jobs as well as day ones. Stop standing there with your mouth open. Be off!"

Searching for the missing cubs - III

Continued from this post.

Tiger Stripes tried the door. It opened ...

Krackaswami was sitting on what looked like a throne! He looked up shocked. "How did you get in? I had jinxed the door!"

You must leave! Global enlightenment is at stake!

A group of people sat around the living room with eyes closed.

Deeksha in progress. Some participants are on the cusp of enlightenment

"You must leave immediately. I have a deeksha going on. I am enlightening these devotees. You are not worthy of being here."

"Where are the cubs?" Mum Lioness demanded.
"Security!" shouted Krackaswami, without looking at them.
Flora, the little goat came running in. "You called, Lord?"
"Throw them out!" ordered Krax.

Lord, you called for Security?

They ran about searching various rooms but found nothing. Hobbler came in and began gesturing to them. They followed him to a room. It was the attic!
The cubses locked in that attic! Mum Lioness launched herself against the door but it would not budge.
She heard muffled sounds and some kicking from inside.
Stripes also tried to break down the door. "Bhagavan, please help us!" he prayed. Suddenly the lock broke. He burst in.

It was dark. He heard grunting coming from one corner. As his eyes adjusted he saw gagged and tied, a big gorilla -- Jagaswami! And next to him was Arunacub's turban!

Stripes untied Jagaswami. "Have you seen our cubs?", he asked.
Jagaswami did not reply. He was furious, wanting revenge!
Mum Lioness picked up the turban and dusted it lovingly. Jagaswami's eyes fell upon the turban. Jags immediately clutched his chest! It hurt. He felt the pain of Mum Lioness without her cubs.

Jagaswami reflecting on his life while behind bars

"Oh Lord!" he moaned. Then he turned to them and said, "I am only helping you to reduce this pain. Don't think i really care for any of you."
"Oh sure, Perish the thought." replied Mum Lioness.
Holding his chest Jags stumbled out of the attic.

Jagaswami down in the dumps

They heard loud voices from below. Krax was shouting at the devotees to return the next day for the deeksha. "We are postponing our session. This unfortunate incident has happened since you are not worthy of my grace. Your gratitude is not enough, your gifts are measly..."

Deeksha participants get up to leave, Global enlightenment averted!

Then Krax came running towards them. "You won't be able to find them", he said. "This whole place is protected with my dark magic."
"Dark Magic, my foot" said Jagaswami exploding with anger. He took the turban from Mum Lionesses hands and put it on.
"Lord Arunachala, please help!" he called out.
Suddenly, they could hear the cubses again. "We are here, Mum, Unca Stripes!"
"You broke my jinx!", shouted Krax, his face crimson with rage.
He tried hard to re-charm the mansion, but amid the shouts of Arunachala and Ramana he was powerless.
Jags led them up the stairs and stopped at a landing, and knocked on the wall. They heard a door cracking open, and four cubses burst out. They had not even seen this door earlier!

"Are you okay, cubs! You must be starved!" enquired Mum.
"Mum, Uncle Annamalai's lunch?", said one little voice urgently.
"Uncle must be starved!", said another.
"No no, we took care of that before coming", replied Mum.
"Thank God! We were so worried about his lunch."
"You mean to tell me you little chaps were sitting in there, cub-napped, and all you were worried about was Uncle Annamalai swami's lunch!" Stripes slapped his own forehead in disbelief.
Jagaswami took off the turban and put it on Arunacub carefully and said "I really don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be here at Arunachala either. I should just go rot someplace else."
"Oh, don't go away like that!" said Om-cub feeling sad for Jags.
"Before you go anywhere, do have one darshan of Bhagavan.", pleaded Arunacub.
"Yes. I should beg him to forgive me, and then leave!", Jags declared.

"Why don't we all go to the ashram!" suggested Mum Lioness. They brushed past Krax (whose ears were smoking), and Flora who was scrubbing the deeksha room.
"Bye, Fauna" called out Stripes (on purpose).
"Fiona is my sister, I am Flora!", she replied angrily.

Stripes was famished by now (what with the running they had to do). As they reached about a mile from the ashram, Stripes' nose picked up some prasad aroma. His pace increased.
They all trooped into the ashram and prostrated to Bhagavan. By some strange coincidence, the first person to be offered prasad was Stripes. He quietly pawed about three helpings.

Bhagavan was asking the little three year old child, "Has little Bo Peep found her sheep?". The child nodded her head vigorously and sat beaming in her mother's lap.

Jagaswami sat quietly in a corner his head bent and eyes looking down. Later when they got up, they noticed he had already left. Maybe he has found his peace.

Jagaswami repents at darshan

Back at the mansion

An amazing stroke of luck befell Krackaswami, while Jags was out on the hill drumming up followers and amassing bananas and jewelry.

There was a knock on the door. Kracks almost did not bother anwering it, but curiosity got the better of him.

And there on the doorstep was a lone Russian.

"Yes?" said Kracks.



"I was ... er .... looking for my old friend Leicameister ... he said to drop by if I were ever in the area," said the Russian, bravely. "And here I am," he added, with a huge embarrassed grin. Everything in India had been a surprise to him ... it almost seemed natural that a large ox would open the door when he went looking for Volker, whom he had not seen for twenty years.

Kracks knew quite well, from searching through every drawer and shelf in the house, that Volker Leicameister was the owner of the mansion.

Ever quick to convert another's confusion into an opportunity for personal gain, Kracks said, "Do come in, esteemed sir."

"Oh, I guess Leicameister must have moved," said the Russian, glancing to each side and stepping gingerly. The streets of Tiruvannamalai had been shockingly soiled, but this was something else! And if there was one thing he knew about his old friend, it was that he would never have so much as a pencil out of place, let alone a rug covered with ... what was this? ... bones ... broken glass ... trampled on biscuits ... tipped over coffee mugs ... banana peels ... He hardly wanted to inspect too closely. Small things were crawling amidst the rotting food.

"Not exactly moved," said Kracks. "He has turned his life and home over to a higher purpose. Like the wisest on this planet, he desired Enlightenment. Unlike most, he has taken the necessary steps. He has submitted to my Grace-given, God-pleasing, karma-eating, vasana-dissolving program, and he is just a hair's breadth away from full and permanent Enlightenment.



"And ... the mess?" asked Dmitri, boldly.

"He was being held back from fully embracing God by an obsessive cleanliness. Part of his Liberation involves surrendering that compulsion ... and so I ask him to throw down a piece of rubbish each day. It is my infinite Love for All Creation and The Great Goddess Entropy which enables me to work with id... er, humans, in this sacrificial way. What pain my holy hoofs go through! But I will endure anything for the sake of this formerly God-forsaken realm."

"I see," said the Russian. Old Volker, almost enlightened! Could it be true? Well, why would an ox make up such a story? Back in university, Volker has always been just a little better than Dmitri at everything. Though Dmitri hated to admit it, it had driven him almost around the bend the way Volker had studied less but always scored a few points higher, skied on older equipment but always beat him down the slopes ... smiled less, but had more friends ... And now, Enlightenment! Well, just a hair's breadth away."

"You have always known, have you not, that your life was empty, pointless ... that something better beckoned, but you could not quite glimpse what it was?" asked Kracks, seeing a sudden faltering of confidence in the Russian.



"Well, yes." What was the harm in admitting this to an ox in a foreign country? "Where is Leicameister?" he dared to ask.

"Doing tapas," said Kracks succinctly, as if this explained all.

"Oh," said Dmitri, trying to memorize the word tapas so he could look it up later.

"I can see you wish to be Enlightened too ... I am seeing now ..." (The ox was staring into a point between Dmitri's eyebrows, then at a spot a few inches above his crown) "that you were my disciple in your last life ... yes ... Leicameister must work harder this time around, because he was not as devoted as you were in his last life ... he was lazier ... in your case, there is just one more thing for you to do ... you have perhaps forgotten all this, but I can see you acquired tremendous spiritual merit in your last life ... such as I have rarely seen! Let me just catch my breath, this is really startling what I see when I gaze into your past here ... yes, yes, just one more little task you were reborn to perform. Then, Enlightenment."



"Yes?"

"You must return to your country, and come back as soon as possible with enough participants to fill my next course. The cost is high ... but tell them the truth: their money blocks their spiritual progress, like a big pile of stinky garbage. I can purify that for them, in my infinite kindness, though it will cause my hoofs to crack and my horns to ache, taking on their karma like that ... but I will make the sacrifice, because I must. Ego-less, I have no say in these matters. Just bring them back here, on the double."

With that, he let out an ear-shattering bellow, which Dmitri took to mean he was dismissed to perform this duty.

Troublesome sadhus still not giving up!

Krackiswami (Krax) was noticing a big change in Jagaswami after Jagaswami (Jags) had worn Arunacub's magic turban. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he felt he could use it to his own advantage.

There were moments when Jags behaved kindly and considerately. And then moments when he was back to his old, megalomaniac self. Was he faking the kind behavior ? If this kind behavior continued, worse still increased, Jags could become popular around the hill, and then it would be hard to turn the tables on Jags.

Jagaswami in his nicer moments

But another thought came to him that Jags was battling some internal demons. He was confused and struggling. He was fighting the kind behavior or mood, and unable to get the better of it at times.

This could be the right time to do something. I must strike while the iron is hot! Jags is losing it. I am very clear, Krax thought. I want nothing to do with kindness or compassion. I want to establish myself as God, and amass wealth and power. I must denounce Jags as a fake. I must denounce all others as not being realized. I must declare myself as the true saviour.

Krax imagines himself with many followers

But first I need some miracles. That's the only way these silly humans will be convinced. They have always pressured saints and sages to show miracles in order to prove their statement that God exists, or that they have found Him. I must be able to show some miracles, even if they be some cheap tricks. Or at least spread rumors of miracles.

Also to protect myself I must be inaccessible. Or accessible only through some very close disciples. So i need some gullible disciples. And that, he decided, was easy as pie.

But in all this, there was one problem. One really big problem. And that was the swami on the hill. He knew that the swami was genuinely a realized sage. I cannot, of course, admit that to others. I must denounce him, with all the others sages.

MEANWHILE Jagaswami (Jags) was walking around the hill drumming up followers.
"Listen up, all of you! There has been a drought this year, and the last, and the year before that."
People began to gather, They could not recognize him due to the changed form.
"Do you want good rains?" he asked them.
They all nodded.

I can give you good rains

Jagaswami had smeared vibhuti on his forehead, worn rudrakshas (beads) around his neck, a trishul (trident) in one hand, and was posing as a sadhu. And looked very convincing.

Jags looks like an authentic spiritual leader

"God has sent me to help you", he said very solemnly, as though he had more important things to do in some other world, but was doing God a great favour by coming here.

Jags sees himself as the greatest guru of all time

They all prostrated in front of him. Some offered bananas at this feet which he shovelled into his mouth as fast as they came.

He deftly picked a gold necklace off one lady's neck as she prostrated. "Thank you! Grace to you! ", he quickly said, giving the impression to all that she had offered it.
Others, not to be outdone, quickly took off bangles and earrings and offered them.


He cleared his throat loudly and continued, "This drought is caused by the coming of the young swami on the hill. He may look kind to you, and treat you well but that is all a front. I am the real saviour."

Some of the gathering got up. Of them some left quietly and the rest came in front and fell at his feet. They told him of all their sufferings and pleaded for help.

"Ok," he said, after enjoying the adulation. "Come for darshans to my mansion on the other side of the hill. You will get grace according to how much dakshina you bring."
Some nodded in fear.

Worship me and you will get grace

"Do bring some grass for my attendant also", he said.
"And oh yes, I need one of you to come regularly and clean my mansion. Immense grace will accrue to that chosen one. The one who comes with the finest gifts and most offerings will get that privilege."
So saying he got up and marched off.

Scheming Swamis

The German Mansion taken over by the swamis

The satsangs were going a bit slow. Very little money was coming in. Participants were unhappy with the results.

Lone participant in Eternal Bliss Program

More time was being spent in trying to decide how to capture Spotty. During such times, the mansion windows would be closed so no sounds could go out. The idiot-box in the next room would be switched on. And often Bala'swami would be posted as a lookout.

Balanandaswami posted as lookout

But what to lookout for, when Spotty could appear as whatever he wanted (even a tiny insect he reasoned), and the three cubs could appear anywhere at will.

They could be sitting on any side of the mansion, or have materialized behind the cupboard as bacteria, for all he knew.

He had the option of leaving the two swamis, but he foast needed to lorn the changing charm from Spotty, and the materializing charm from the other cubs.

Wait, he had an idea. He strode over to Jags and Kracks, and shook them awake. I have a brilliant idea. "Getting us caught? Or badly hurt?" asked Jags sarcastically.

"If you turn me into a leopard cub, I could go over to Spotty's and make friends with him, and learn their tricks."

(He did not relish the idea much since Jags's (Dark magic) charm was not a very predictable one. Sometimes the effect took ages to wear off, sometimes it wore off sooner than desired. Often it was accompanied by splitting headaches or dizziness. And it never felt good.)

"Look here, silly", said Jags, "We don't want you to go there and lorn any tricks. We want you to bring that spotted chap back. I could torn you into a large leopard. You could befriend that leopard cub and bring him back forcibly, so we can get all his tricks out. And with him in our grasp, we can get all of them to leave this hill forever.

"But forst you must observe them and lorn some more about them so this plan can succeed. What is their schedule like, and when is Spotty by himself? When are Mum Lioness and Stripes busy, or away, etc etc?"

Jags had told him to spy on the cubs from a distance. One the forst day, on his way down he got bitten by some hornets.

Bala'swami: Oooh, i see something.

Another day he was watching the two caves for an hour and a snake began slithering up the tree. Or a group of monkeys began fighting nearby bringing the entire Lion family out.

Finally after several days he saw Spotty go near a rock and then suddenly vanish! Later Spotty came running out with the cubs from the other cave! He then heard them talk about "a secret passageway" and to use it at night to meet them.

Spotty vanishes behind a rock suddenly

Aah, he thought, if i can locate that passageway, i can wait there and catch Spotty when he comes!

Troublesome swamis don't give up easily

1 sheep, 2 sheep, 3 sheep, ...

Tiger Stripes was trying hard to sleep. But just as sleep would come, something would distorb him. He was seeing the most rediclious images. Of animals jumping over him. "Haha, this is a vegetarian tiger!" they were shouting with glee. And stomping all over him.

He's totally safe, I promise you. Trained him myself!

"He believes in non-violence" another said, and came running from a distance and jumped onto him. They all guffawed loudly.

Isn't he adorable? I call him Kitty

He was reaching his wits end and about to spank one animal with his tail when he saw Spotty surrounded by dragons. He awoke with a start.

Dragon dream

Luckily it was all a dream, but where was Spotty? He eyed the lion cave. Mum Lioness was teaching the cubs Loopholes in the General Theory of Relativity (compulsory study for precocious tiny-tots in Tamil Nadu), and Spotty wasn't with them.

Cubs being prepared to rule jungle

The dragons reminded him of the trubblesum swamis. He sprinted towards the mansion where Spotty had spotted them. Om noticed him running off, was about to mention it to Mum, but then went on with the lessons. I'll tell her when there's a prasad break, he thought.

Stripes roared loudly as he approached the mansion. There he saw the three swamis staring up a tree shouting "Come down Spotty, nice and easy, or else...."

I am coming up to get ya

Almost there.

They all torned and looked at Stripes as he broke through a bush. "Stop where you are, we warn you, or we will torn you into something horrible", Jagaswami shouted.

You don't want to mess with us, little chap

Stripes stopped and looked up. There was no Spotty to be seen. He could make out a little blue-bird atop the tree, looking frightened.
---
Meanwhile, before the prasad break could come, Mum Lioness called for a surprise hug-break. From somewhere the sudden urge to hug her little ones arose in her. As she pulled them close to her, Om said, Mum Lioness, i just saw Unca Stripes making a dash in that direction.

In what direction, she enquired.
That direction, Om replied as though it was quite obvious.

Now you three sit in the cave while I check out, she said. Is that quite clear? Mum said.
All three nodded. Surprising there were no protests from the cubs. She immediately leapt over the bush, and sprinted off for the mansion.
Inside the cave, Arunacub chanted "Om Om Om! Take us to Spotty". And instantly there they were in front of the mansion.



---
As this was happening, Jagaswami realized it was difficult for him to torn Spotty into something with Stripes about to attack. He had to delay Stripes in some way. He tried his old trick, shouting "Incendio". Immediately, a fire pot materialized in front of him.

At this very moment the three cubs materialized next to Stripes. Stripes torned to look at them. Jags took this opportunity to topple the firepot on Stripes. Stripes was unaware, distracted by the sudden entry of Om, Aruna and Tiru.

Spotty silently called out Om thrice visualizing himself as a large bird with big talons holding the firepot. Instantly he became an eagle and swooped down catching the falling firepot.

Spotty (as eagle) brings down swamis

As he swooped down, the swamis startled by the sudden change, lost their balance and fell over Jags.

Krackaswami runs for life

I think I've broken some bones

All three now lay in a crumpled heap, trying to disentangle themselves but poking each other in doing so.

The firepot was hot, Spotty couldn't hold it long enough. It slipped, landed a few feet from Stripes, and was still burning.

Realizing that Spotty had a little burn on his cheek, Om immediately came over and gave him a little kiss. "There, heal quick!" he said. Spotty thought he heard Om say "Change into me, quick" and immediately thought "Let me be Om!"

Aaaah, I'll get you for this!

The three swamis by now had managed to get up without poking each other further (although Jags did call Balanandaswami quite a few uncomplimentary names). Bala told him "One of those two identical ones is Spotty!"
"Which one?" thundered Jags "Find out fast, or I shall torn you into a ... into a ..."

At this moment, Mum Lioness reached the scene. First of all she was taken aback to see the cubs here. They should have been safely in the cave. Then she saw two Oms and got confused. She looked around to appraise the sityashun, and it sortanly did not look good. Three large overweight swamis on one side. Four little cubs facing them and one tiger trying to hold the swamis at bay.

Her little cubses were in danger. She sprang from the boulder she was on, and landed near them. All were surprised. The swamis stepped back trembling.
"Don't ever come near my cubses", she roared.

"Oh, we were only inviting them in for a tasty treat." said Jags glibly.
"I only wanted to shower them with my grace", said Krackaswami loftily.
"My Dark Lord has some german cookies for the sweet lads", added Bala.

"I am unrivalled in magic", said Jags. "What your cubs know is trifling compared to my legendary abilities. I could teach your cubs real magic."

Mum Lioness took one step forward, and the three swamis backed off terrified.

"If greatness is what you want, let your cubs serve me. I will make them great gurus!" Mum Lioness glared at him. Perhaps he should try something else.

"I could give you a free copy of my autobiography, signed by me! Spotty would love that." Jags said picking up courage. "He would love reading about my exploits."
"Shall I run up and fetch a copy, Master", asked Bala, seizing this opportunity to disappear.
"You won't know where to find it. I have locked them so they dont get stolen!" he called after Bala, and ran towards the mansion.

Krackaswami finding himself alone in front of a Mother lioness and a large tiger who looked quite annoyed at being woken up from an afternoon nap, smiled and said "I .. I'll get those c-c-cookies!" and slunk away, tail between his legs.

Mum Lioness let out a laugh, and the cubs joined in.
She looked at the two Oms, sniffed them both and said "Now which one of you is which?"
Om and Spotty smiled but kept mum. "Ok!" Mum Lioness said, "I don't wanna know!"

Om: Hey, which one of us is you and which is me?

Three pairs of eyes watched them carefully as they walked out of sight, and back to the ashram to have an evening darshan of Bhagavan and perhaps a reading of a letter Suri Nagamma had written lately.

Bhagavan and Palaniswamy

In the days after the appearance of Jagaswami and his crew of rogueish swamis in town, promising to relieve them of the lice scourge if they accepted him as God, the townsfolk had gone up to the young dark boy on the hill.

Young Swami on the hill

The boy ate sparingly, wore little, and spoke even less. Many could not understand this behavior. They were used to showy, arrogant swamis like Jagaswami and slightly eccentric (but well-meaning) ones like Seshadri Swami.

Seshadri swami told them to go to the boy on the hill (his younger brother, he lovingly called him) for help. And so they went.

They poured their hearts out to him. He heard them silently. Sometimes he shed tears as they cried. But mostly he was silent. He did not claim he could do anything.

But all those who came to him, retorned and found that they were cured of lice. And somehow they would not get it again. They came back to thank him, but he allowed no shows of gratitude.

Some of them just could not stop talking of his eyes. Such eyes they were, once you had peered into them (or they into you, it was just impossible to decide which) you could never forget them, or wish to look elsewhere. Once he had looked at you (or you at him) it was impossible to forget him.

Such was the little boy, lovingly called Brahman Swami or Chinnaswami (little swami).

And so gradually the lice scourge reduced and then just vanished. With that, most people got back to their lives and forgot the swami, assept a few faithfuls.

Palaniswamy

All this brought the little unnamed boy to the attention of one tapasvi (ascetic) Palaniswamy.
He came to the little boy and took care of him as a father would, his son.
Wherever the little boy went, he went, like a calf following its mother.

Palaniswamy was like Bhagavan's shadow

For over two decades he remained by the Swami's side, serving him faithfully

He cooked and cleaned for the young boy, and meditated in whatever time was left.
He himself was the epitome of renunciation, having with him only a towel to wear, and one or two spiritual texts.

Surely Father Arunachala had sent Palaniswami to take care of His beloved son

Until his final breath he stayed and served the little swami with a devotion that this earth has rarely seen.

Or praps it was Arunachala Himself

At the time of leaving his body, the little boy (now a renowned sage) held Palaniswami's head in his lap, lovingly, destroying his vasanas with his touch, and helped him immeasurably in his quest for liberation.

Last moments of Palaniswamy

The young swami on the hill, an ocean of compassion, whose face shone like the sun, in time came to be known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.