UDUPI KRISHNA
Almighty always listens to sincere devotees

In one of her trips to Udupi Sree Krishna temple, there was an incident that proved her devotion to the Almighty. As all of us know, the Sree Krishna Temple at Udupi can attract devotees all around the year. On this particular day, Smt. Sundari accompanied by Shri.VSK, her son, daugher in law and grandchildren arrived at around noon to the temple.

There was a huge crowd at the temple and we were asked to wait in the line. We were informed by some samiritans that we could go through another gate at the back side of the temple. So, we took the advice and went on to the other entrance. However, as we reached there, we found that the area had some barricades for some reason and access through a vehicle was not possible and we had to walk. Despite that we said we will walk up, but midway Smt.Sundari was exhausted and said I cannot walk any more and if Krishna wants to give me darshan, let him come here and take me, I cannot walk anymore.

Shri. VSK and Smt. Veena said I will be here with you. In the meanwhile, a policeman walked up to them and gave them both a couple of chairs to sit and told them to be seated there. It was a surprise that Shri.Kripanand who was waiting in the normal queue, noticed that Smt. Sundari, Shri. VSK and Smt. Veena were walking out after their darshan of Bhagwan Krishna.

Later, when she narrated what had transpired, we all realize that it was none other than Bhagwan Krishna who listened to her call and took her in for darshan through the back gate all the way near the sanctum sanctorum. Smt. Sundari fondly recalls that the gate which was chained was opened just like how the gates opened when Krishna was born. The queue for the general public was stopped for a daily ritual and Smt.Sundari had the privilege to get the Darshan accompanied by Shri.VSK and Smt.Veena. She also remembers telling Shri.VSK at that moment that I have attained Mukthi at this moment and may not come back. Shri.VSK told her no, Lord Krishna gave you the darshan and has instructed to stay back and continue the yomen service that she has been doing to the Lord.

For those you know Smt. Sundari, you might recall that she is so fond of Krishna that she calls him atleast a hundred times in a day. Can we say anything else other than the fact that Lord Krishna heard her everytime and made way for her to get his darshan on this occassion?. That was the kind of devotion that Smt.Sundari had and God paved the way for her wish to get His Darshan.

PALANI MURUGAN
Almighty can make a molehill out of a mountain

Students of Smt.Sundari liked to go on a pilgrimage with their beloved teacher. A trip was planned during Sivaratri to Mudalaimadai near Kollengode, Palakkad and then to Palani.

After spending the Sivarthri at the Ashram at Mudalaimadai, the team proceeded to Palani to get the Palani Andavar Darshan. However, on reaching the foothills of Palani, Smt.Sundari told her students, I don't think I will be able to take the Rope car up as there are further steps to walk up from the Rope car and I would rather stay here. Incidentally at the same time, Smt.Sundari's son called from Bangalore and enquired about their trip and she said the same to her son. Smt.Sundari's youngest son, Shri.Kripanand, was a toddler when Smt.Sundari was in Palani and Shri.VSK was working there around the early 70's'. He remembered that his mother would walk up the Palani temple hill atleast twice a day and he fondly told his mother that Lord Murugan will make ways to give you the darshan and requested her to make an effort.

Subsequently in about 4 to 5 hours, Smt.Sundari called back Shri.Kripanand and narrated what had transpired. Students of Smt.Sundari approached the officials near the Rope car Station and had requested for a wheelchair access to take Smt.Sundari to the temple. This was promptly organized by the officials and Smt.Sundari took the Rope car, took a short flight of 5 stairs and was then accompanied by officials who organized a wheelchair for her to get to the Sanctum Sanctorum. She got a very special darshan and a Roja garland as a prasadam from Lord Murugan, who made his mountain look like a molehill for Smt.Sundari.

Her devotion to climb the 700 steps every day twice to see the Abhishekam and Aarati paved the way when she visited years later. A lesson to learn from this experience is that God will extend his arms to anyone who shows their devotion to Him at all times.

GURUVAYOOR
Narayaneeyam Bhajanam at the Melpathur Auditorium
(Bhattathari Hall)

Students of Smt.Sundari learnt Narayaneeyam among many others over a span of months with rigorous sessions conducted by Smt. Sundari at her home SUKRITA. It was always a wish that the students wanted to recite Narayaneeyam at the Guruvayoor temple. Thus, a plan was made and a group of around 25 students joined the entourage. Shri.VSK, many of Smt.Sundari's siblings and their spouses also joined and said let us make this a memorable trip to Guruvayoor and Kaladi, the birth place of Shri.Adi Shankaracharya.

Thus train tickets and transport and accomodation arrangements were done and the team was all set to render Narayaneeyam at the Melpathur Auditorium. The students were elated about this opportunity as many had not visited these shrines earlier and were eagerly looking forward to the wonderful spiritual experience that was in store.

Smt.Sundari unlike many teachers, always explained the meaning of each of the scriptures as she spent all her life learning them in true essence. She always wanted to explain the context of each of these renderings and paved the way for her students to understand the true devotion that is quintessential. She always took extra time to take the holistic view of these wonderful renditions and made it easy for students to learn and recite. Her patience was paramount for those students who came back with doubts and she would not hesitate to teach all over again no matter how many times.

Smt.Sundari midway during the rendition felt a little uncomfortable with her throat and was immensely worried as she has to lead the team in the rendition. Shri.VSK noticed this and gave the Guruvayoor Kalabam (prasadam) which she took and soon after she was feeling comfortable and completed the entire rendition of Narayaneeyam along with the team.

The team had a wonderful experience in the Melpathur Auditorium and the logistics of accomodation and transport were handled smoothly by Smt.Sundari's siblings. Shri.VSK was happy to spend the time away from his busy intellectual pursuits and took this opportunity to enhance the learning for the students with his deep analysis of these scriptures and imparting their scientific viewpoints.

We are quite confident that all the participants of this pilgrimage will remember this trip as the pinnacle among many other pilgrimages that they have done.

THIRUVENKADU
Perseverance - Demonstrated by the Almighty Himself

Smt.Sundari in one of her trips with Shri.VSK went to Thiruvenkadu, known also as the Budhan Temple - one of the biggest temples in south India. They arrived at the temple in a mini bus and Smt.Sundari told Shri.VSK and others to go ahead and visit the temple due to the scorching heat and the vast premises which she was skeptical about walking in.

Soon after all others had left for the temple, Smt.Sundari rethought her decision to stay back and the thought of not getting a darshan of the embodiment of knowledge, Bhagwan Budhan, having come so close, started to eat away at her. She caved in and got out of the bus and started walking towards the temple in the unforgiving sun, barefoot. The heat started to burn her feet and she couldn't walk on the nearby thorn-ridden grass either. Everyone else going towards the temple were running and she was unable to do the same; started chanting Lord Krishna's name and kept on walking.

Right then, an older gentleman who seemed to be around 90 years of age who was also walking in the sun, hunched over with a cane; looked at her and asked her why is she going through the trouble of walking all the way to the temple when she could have just stayed back and prayed from there. Smt.Sundari told him considering your age and condition, I should actually be inspired and thus I am making this effort. After this dialogue exchange, she had not taken 2 steps forward and looked back to see that the older gentleman was nowhere to be seen. She looked for him all around and could not find him, it was as though that he had disappeared into thin air.

She went ahead and completed her darshan and returned to her worried family members by the bus who were looking for her. She explained to them what had transpired and immediately urged her son to go look for the old man. He returned in vain after running around the temple looking for someone who matched the description. She interpreted this experience as a spiritual intervention by Lord Krishna, and the man who she had met was none other than the Almighty himself who had paid her a visit after listening to her chants of struggle and devotion. This is one more of Smt. Sundari's memorable incidents that further cemented her belief and fortified her dedication to the Almighty.