Searching for the Missing Cubs

When the cubses did not come home at lunch time, Mum Lioness started to get worried. She was calling for them when Meditator Tigr appeared, looking for Spotty.



"They always come back in time to make Annamalai Swami's lunch and take his food to him," said Mum Lioness with a furrowed brow.

"We had better set out and search for them," said Med Tiger.

"Let's start down at Palakottu, just in case they are visiting down there, and that way we can deliver Annamalai Swami's lunch ourselves ... though it makes no sense ... the cubses have never once forgotten to take him his food and sweep his hut."



There was no sign of the cubses at Palakottu. Annamalai Swami suggested they search at the Germans' mansion.



They set out at a brisk pace. They had not even known that Annamalai Swami knew of the mansion. Perhaps the cubses had told him.

Disappointingly, all was quiet at the mansion. They knocked, and called out, but there was no answer. Mum Lioness even tried opening the door, but it was locked.



They continued searching and calling. A family of zebras said they had seen no sign of the cubses and wished them luck.



They came upon an orangutan and baby rowing on the pond the cubses loved to play at, but they had not seen the cubs that day.

Little Goat attempts Spotty-napping

The little goat went all over the forest looking for Spotty. It was a frightening ordeal, often it heard the roar of lions in the distance, or the trumpeting of elefinks. And what if it came across some lion or tiger? What if that leopard named Spotty ate it up, it thought?

By afternoon it was hungry and tired, and lay azhausted under a tree. Just then three little cubs running about the forest spotted it. "Hey, a little goat. It seems tired and lost", one said.

They came up and sniffed the goat. One licked its face, another its ears. "Wake up, little goatee!" they said. "Are you okay?"
The goat woke up surprised to find these 3 cubs around it. "Don't be afraid !" said one.
"I am hungry and tired", said the goat bursting into tears.

The three led the goat home. Their mother began to feed the goat some berries and milk. Then she said, "Tiru-cub, go and call Spotty! The four of you can cheer up our little friend for a while"

"Spotty!" the goat thought. "I don't even need to go looking for Spotty, he is being delivered to me. How great is the grace of Krax, I did seva for Krax and I am getting his grace!"

In a minute, Tirucub came bouncing in with a little leopard cub. So this is what my great guru Krax wants. "Let's play!" shouted Tiru.
"No wait!" said the goat. "I must go home, can one of you escort me home, please?"
"We will all come with you" shouted the cubs.
"No no, just one will do, please"
"We go together", said Om cub firmly.
"All four of us", added Aruna cub.

Come with me to my great Master

And so they began walking along with the goat. After walking a bit, they began to feel a bit odd. "This route goes towards the mansion. But surely it will veer off at some point", Om thought.
"Are you sure this is the way to your home?", asked Arunacub.
"Yes".

So now, they thought, maybe its house is quite near the mansion.

JAGASWAMI, was swinging on the branches outside the mansion, eating fruit and berries. Aah, this vegetarian diet sure feels better than the earlier diet he was on. No constipation, for one. And he felt leaner and lighter. As he was chomping upon some berries, he heard some shrill voices.
"Are you sure this is the creck way?" one asked.
He looked carefully through the leaves. He could see some cubs and a goat. Oh my! THE cubs. And there was Spotty, too.

He leapt into the house, startling Krax, and whispered, "They are coming! Some goat and the cubs. Spotty is there, too!"

That sure was fast, Krax thought. "Ah yes, that was all my plan. That goat is a follower of ... mine ... and I asked him to bring Spotty here"
"Well done, Krackaswami! For once you have done well! But your job does not end here, you must realize -- I must get Spotty's siddhis. Once that is over, I can promote you to Paramacharya. And oh by the way. If you are thinking of collecting your own followers then I am afraid your ego is going out of control. I am the Lord here, you are only my slave, nothing more. That is, until I feel you are ripe to be enlightened."

"That is not quite how I see it, Jags. You are aging. Your powers are weakening."
It took Jags a while to swallow this sudden reversal of roles. His eyes looked like they could pop out of their sockets any moment.
"We need more followers, Jags. We need an order of monks, an inner circle, and then an outer circle, and then the rest."
"What do you mean by inner and outer circle, O Lord!", asked Jags laughing at Krax.
"The inner circle, you old fool, will consist of the rich and famous and clever who come to my feet. Only they will have access to me."
"Those who are not so endowed, but are devoted and faithful can be part of the outer circle. They will represent me to the followers.
Finally all the poor people, and those whom we can't fully trust, who must be kept at an arm's length, are the rest -- the ordinary devotees who bring us money and more followers."
"Aah, I see the light", replied Jags sarcastically.

"And, oh by the way" said Krax, imitating Jags, "I don't really see any place for you in my grand scheme. You can hang around here a while, for old times sake. We will throw some scraps your way to keep you alive. Then we can bury you somewhere far away from here hopefully, so i don't think of you too often. ..."
"But i suggest you make it a bit quick, your ... 'departure', don't linger too long! " added Krax very coldly and icily. "Or I might run out of patience."


"THIS is where I live", declared the goat, pointing at the mansion.
"Here?" exclaimed the four cubs in shock.

"DON'T stand there with your mouth open, old chap", said Krax to Jags. "Get the cubs in here fast. And don't let Spotty run away. Or I shall lock you in the attic for three days without food."

"YOU must not go there!" said Spotty to the goat.
"These are dangerous people." said Arunacub.
"Oh no, one of them is my guru. I heard his speech the other day. He is God, don't you know. He loves us all. Worship Him and He will shower you with grace."
"What grace has he showered YOU with?" asked Tiru-cub.
"Oh, I don't know where to start ... I could write entire books on the miracles of Bhagavan Kracked Swami"
"I don't mean to criticize your guru, or compare him," said Om-cub, "but you should meet the young Brahman Swami."
"Oh him? Did you not know? He is not realized. Sri Krackedswami says so. That's why he wears only a kaupinam and lives like a hermit. That is not the life our Bhagavan Krackedswami wants us to lead. He wants us to live a life of fun and wealth. That is true enlightenment, or what he calls Spiritual Materialism."

The cubs tried hard to suppress their laughter because they did not want to offend the little goat who seemed quite an innocent person.

"In any case, your Brahman swami is just a human being who sits quietly. Bhagavan Krackedswami is the living God. He is the creator of this universe who has now come to enlighten all beings. He says he will do so very shortly. By 2012, no wait, its 2018 now, or maybe 2036 since the last time we met. But pretty soon."
The cubs were speechless.
"And its really so simple," explained the goat. "All we have to do is donate all our wealth to them. Our karmas get burnt this way and we become enlightened. Now we can talk later, you must come in with me."
He clutched Spotty's paw rather tightly and pulled him to the door.

The three cubs immediately chanted Om thrice. But nothing happened! They tried again but were unable to even complete three Oms. The door opened and Jags came out. He pulled Spotty in and the cubs had to follow.
"Don't bother about trying your chants and spells, little cubses." said Krax "I have put a spell on this mansion, and its surrounding grounds. This place is protected by dark magic. Your spells will not work here. Your only hope is to teach me your spells. Then you can go back unharmed."

Addressing the little goat Krax said, "Now, Flora, after taking all the garbage lying outside the house to the dump, and cooking us some food, I want you to go around Tiruvannamalai telling everyone how much grace you are getting from me, and how many miracles you have had in your life, and of course, who I really am."
"Yes, Greatest Lord of All", said the goat.

"And take this necklace. Tell everyone that you prayed to me for a necklace, and the very next day an old friend gifted this to you."
"Yes, Lord KrackedSwami." said the goat admiring the necklace (which had been removed from the neck of a prostrating devotee the previous day). She prostrated three times and left the room. "And do report to me everyday about your progress", Krax called out after her.

a small goat comes forward

Krackaswami was expanding one of the mansion doors to allow his horns to fit through, and Jagaswami was relaxing on the couch, when there was another knock at the front door



"Get the door!" Krackaswami bellowed.

Jagaswami, not wanting to be squewered with one of Krack's horns, heaved himself up from the couch and went tp open the door. The effects of the turban had mostly worn off, though now and then, with no warning, a sudden burst of empathy and compassion would come over Jags when he least expected it.



A small goat was standing on the doorstep.

"I ... I ... I was at your talk the other day when you said the person who brings you the most gifts will receive the most grace and be chosen to clean your house. I'm afraid I have no gifts, but I will be your servant if you allow me to be ...." said the little goat in a soft voice.

"Weeeeeellll," said Jags. "Hmmmmm. Let me think ... no gifts?"

"I'm afraid I don't own anything .... but I am very hard working."

"Perhaps we can try you out. Clean this kitchen first and I will think it over."

"Thank you," said the little goat, immediately setting to work.

Jags went back into the livingroom, then reappeared to say, "And do it FAST!"



The little goat worked with astonishing speed and soon had the kitchen put back to rights.



Jagaswami, coming in to shout at the small creature to hurry up, was surprised to see the room completely tidy. Hmmm, he thought, maybe I underestimated this goat.

"Just one more thing," he said. "And then I will decide if you are worthy of doing seva here. Go now, and bring me back a small spotted creature, a leopard who answers to the name Spotty. Bring him here, and waste no time."

post by tirucub

Bhagavan answers a little sadhaka's queries

It was the last day of our visit to the ashram. Some of the male devotees were getting a tad irritated. But on the other hand, some lady devotees like Suri Nagamma were unable to contain their joy.

It seems some 9-year old devotee whom Bhagavan kept referring to as Tiru-cub (now what was that supposed to mean) was asking Bhagavan to explain quadratic equations to him, and Bhagavan was listening to his problems with utmost interest. And being able to clarify to the little devotee's expectations. Other devotees were leaning in to listen hoping some profound spiritual truths were being revealed by Bhagavan and were perplexed at what they were hearing. Was this some instruction for only very mature souls.

Om and Tiru cub asking profound questions

Just then Bhagavan adjusted his spectacles and looked at a sheet that a 3-year old had placed at His feet. "Aah, om-cub what have you brought along?"
Now what sort of name was Om-cub?

Bhagavan read over the sheet two, no three, times. "Aah, a very profound spiritual document", Bhagavan said. Om-cub glowed with pride as everyone's attention focused on the sheets he had brought in, which contained pictures in them, too.
"Mum Lioness could not crack it, so we came to you.", explained Om-cub.
They all wondered which part of the world this scripture belonged to, and how many millenia old it must be. Was it some Upanishad they had never heard of?

Bhagavan cleared his throat and explained:
"You see, Om cub, this is the story of the ego. The ego tries it's best to strengthen itself, to become big. But invariably when one accepts and surrenders to the grace of the Self, it breaks.
In this verse, Humpty Dumpty is a strong ego, which resisted the guru by sitting on a wall. "

Bhagavan explains spiritual truths to cubs

Om cub nodded in appreciation. Now it was becoming clear to him.
"But when he surrenders, the Self breaks the ego completely. And no one can fix the ego again."
"So Humpedy Dumpedy becomes a jnani?" asked one seven-year old sitting with them.
"Sure looks like it, Aruna-cub," replied Bhagavan, "But only after surrendering to the Self!"

Om, Tiru cub and Aruna-cub (wearing a wonderful white turban), prostrated to Bhagavan and went and sat in a corner.

-- From Reminiscences of a Wandering Monk, by Sri Goraswami

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.

A strange creature on the hill !

It was a dark and stormy night. About six-months ago. I was sitting in my cave, I could hear some humming of Arunachala Siva from a distance. I felt like finding out where this humming was coming from but was a little afraid of venturing out in the dark.

Early morning I came out of the cave. It was silent, the humming had stopped. However, on instinct I walked in one direction. I could smell something across the water. I just knew I had to trace out who or what it was.

Where in the name of our Loving Lord was that sound coming from?

I crossed the water and came to a cave. Carefully I sniffed and could make out that someone was inside. I peeped in, it was dark. Again I felt afraid to go in. But soon my eyes got accustomed to the dark. I ventured in.

In one corner I found a tiny little baby sitting with eyes closed. He was seeming quite blissful. I tried to shake him but got no reply. I asked him "Respected Sir, who are you and where are you from?" but no response. "Have you lost your stripes?", I enquired with great concern.


I then remembered how Palaniswami had once taken care of Bhagavan. Surely this is some devotee of Arunachala, I thought, for he was chanting His name all night. And so i carefully caught him with my teeth and brought him out into the light.

He was a strange little creature with spots instead of stripes. How odd, I thought, I don't know who or what he is, but one thing that's sortan is that he is a devotee of Bhagavan. And also he probably hasn't eaten in a long while.

And so i came over the ashram. Bhagavan was walking, I put the little cub at his feet. He picked up the cub and said, "Oh look, Stripes has brought a leopard cub!"



But who will look after the leopard cub asked one attendant? Immediately Ramanatha Brahmachari offered to do so. For some reason, I wished to take care of him. And so i offered to look after him, too.

Bhagavan accepted the offer. He then took some iddli pieces, mashed them and put them in the cubses mouth. The cub swallowed them without opening his eyeses. Bhagavan's eyeses glowed with happiness. He gazed at the cub for a while. Then He said, "Stripes, take Spotty home, and bring him here for a month for his food."

And so the cub got his first morsel of food (after coming to the hill) by Bhagavan's hands, and it was the holy food of the ashram, the holiest food there is in the universe. And Bhagavan gave him his name, too.

But what is he, I had asked Bhagavan. "Panthera Pardus", Bhagavan replied, "Or a spotted leopard in layman's terms".

I looked puzzled. He explained, "Just as you are Panthera Tigris." (oh, am i, i wondered) "So he is Panthera Pardus".

I took Spotty home. Soon he didn't seem so strange to me, even with spots in place of stripes. I would sing Arunachala Siva in his ears all day. I cleaned him twice daily, maybe more, if i felt like licking him. In fact, two days later when he opened his eyeses and looked into mine, I thought he was cuteness personified.
-- Contributed by Stripes the Tiger