மதுரலலிதம்

I remember a few more instances from Ramana Periya Puranam where Bhagavan has prescribed Parayanam / Japam of scriptures to devotees.

Whenever I went to Munagala’s room, he would be reading the Upanishads. One day, I asked him, “You are the direct disciple of Bhagavan. Why are you always reading the scriptures instead of practising Self Enquiry?” Munagala’s voice almost melted as he said, “This parayana is what my teacher told me to do. I asked Bhagavan whether I should take it up as my sadhana and Bhagavan confirmed that I should read these every day, all the time. Reading the scriptures is a fully authentic sadhana for a serious seeker. It is pure joy to be with Upanishads!”

Early one morning, Bhagavan called Kamakshi into the hall as she was passing by. He gave her Srimad Bhagavatam, a book of supreme wisdom soaked in devotion mostly dealing with the life and teaching of Lord Krishna. He indicated a place in the hall and asked her to sit there and read the book. When people started coming into the hall, he called her, asked for the book, marked the place that she was at with a book mark and told her to come the next day. He asked her to come every day until the book was finished, until she had imbibed the Bhagavatham’s fusion of wisdom and devotion.

Bhagavan approved of even mere chanting of Bhagavan Nama through this incident – In the first meeting TKS sings – “Oh Lord! Grant me the boon that my tongue should constantly repeat your sacred name even if my mind strays away.” (நற்றவா உனை நான் மறக்கினும் சொல்லு நா நமசிவாயவே) When TKS finished, Bhagavan was very happy. He said, “Yes, yes, that is what should be done.”

When asked for the meaning for Aksharamanamalai Bhagavan has mentioned – Repeatedly chanting it is the meaning of it.

In addition I saw in the book that almost all devotees used chanting ‘Arunachala shiva’ or ‘Ramana’ or ‘am namo bhagavathe sri ramanaya’ or repeated reading of scriptures and Bhagavan’s works in addition to self enquiry.