Grihastashrama and Anugraha of Guru
Maalapurastham Tripurarimitram Kaumodakee Nandaka Chakrapanim Bhaktha priyam Shankaralingrupam Sri Ranganatham Sharanam prapadye. Thou art a dweller of Malapura, thou art a friend of Shiva. You weild Kaumodaki, Nandaka Sudarshana Chakra (and Sharnga bow) you love your devotees, you manifested yourself as Shankaralinga O! Sri Ranganatha I bow to thee.
After his return to Nulenur Rangappa purchased a house and settled there with family and brought his wife. He sold his old lands which yielded nothing and brought thirty acres of land. He visited his cousins and relatives who did not need him. But one Subbanna of Lokadalalu greeted him heartily and forced him to accept two hundred rupees. He started agriculture and trade. He was a pioneer in agriculture as he grew groundnuts for the first time in Chitradurga dist. He arranged weddings of his siblings.
Rangappa became a mentor and guide of all the villagers. His childhood friends Dummi Nanjundappa, Rangapura Mallappa joined him again. He used to go to Davangere along with Nanjundappa and meet Thumbigere Chidambarappa. They discussed Adhyathma when they met.
Rangappa became famous as a capable Shanubhog. He used to go to Holalkere and take part in reading Kumaravyasa Bharatha. He used to conduct Geeta Saptahas. Sri Y. Subba Rao attended them and became a close associate of Rangappa. He later became a famous author, assumed sanyasa and he is now known of Sri Sri Sachidananda Saraswathi of Holenarasipur.
Many traveling Brahmins came to him and he learnt music, Ayurveda, mantra and other things. If his guest was a Vedantist he would entertain him for a week or so and discuss widely the theory and practise of Adhyathma. He was appointed as Police patil(Magistrate) of Nulenur. With all these activities Rangappa used to go to Malenahalli at 3-30 am and practiced Bhakthiyoga (Hatayoga).
Rangappa knew the futility of Hatayoga in achieving Mukthi. Hence he indulged in Dhyana of Sri Lakshmi Ranganatha in his heart (Anahata Chakra). He would return to Nulenur before sunrise. Nobody knew about it. After sometime, one day Lord Sri Ranganatha presented himself to Rangappa between the eyebrows.
Who can describe the supreme beauty of Ranganatha, father of Manmatha. His eyes were like lotus leaves in the lotus face. He wore Vyjayanthimala Srivatsa a mole was to be seen on his chest. He wore pitambara(yellow robe), and held kaumodaki (the mace), Nandaka (the sword), Sudarshana chakra and Sarnga bow in his four hands Bewitching Smile adorned his face of surpassing beauty. Rangappa's mind submerged in Ranganatha and he sat in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple the temple headless of time.
The priest came to the temple for worshipping the Lord. When he tried to enter Garbhagudi (Sanctum Sanctorium) a black cobra appeared on the statue of Lord. He was damn afraid of it and waited outside the temple for the Shanubhog to come out.
At about 2'o clock in the afternoon he heard a melodious song from the temple. 'O' Ranga who causes maya protect me. Sages like Narada , Gods like Chaturmukha Brahma praised you and were uplifted by you. You protected Dhruva, you are fond of Samagana, Oh lord you protect those who serve you with love (Prema Bhakthi)
Oh lord you reside at Malenahalli. Oh ocean of kindness save your Bhaktas'.
The priest praised Rangappa and called him talking and walking Ranganatha. Rangappa asked the priest to keep mum about the incident.
During this period it is said that most venerable Kulaindai Anandar of Madurai came and had a long discussion with Rangappa. Kulaindai Anandar practiced yoga for 1000 years near Manasa Sarovar and entered samadhi while alive. Resurrecting himself he again practiced yoga for another 1000 years at Katmandu and entered a living Samadhi. After two resurrections he practiced yoga for 1000 years in Madurai on the banks of river Vaigai.
Rangappa used to see Ranganatha during all the 24 hrs of a day. Rangappa was continueing Atma vichara simultaneously.
In 1914 Y. G. Kulkarni and Kohalli master came to Nulenur from Anandavana Agadi. They taught Ramaswamy, son of Rangappa, a shloka about Chidambara.
Kripasamudram Sumukham Trinetram Jatadharam Parvativamabhagam Sadashivam Rudramananta roopam Chidambaresham Hridibhavayami
(I meditate upon Chidambara who is an ocean of kindness has a beautiful face, who has Jut, he is Rudra, his forms are countless)
Rangappa recited the prayer simultaneously with his son, with great fervor. The guest exclaimed "who can know Chidambara's ichha. This is his place. One has to wait and see."
One day Sri Ranganatha told Rangappa as follows:- "you have not asked me for any thing at all. Now I am granting you anything you ask for."
Rangappa said " I aspire to achieve Jivanmukthi.'
The lord said "I cannot grant it. You worship Sri Hanuman for 48 days and he will send you the Guru. Who will guide you to liberation."
In 1919 Sri Narayana Bhagavan of Anandavana Agadi came for seva. He engaged Rangappa in Atmavichara He said "An Uttamadhikari can realize Brahman by the grace of Guru. Ranganna, you are an uttamadhikari."
Rangappa requested him to bless him but he said 'I am not destined to be your Guru. He will come to you and bless you.'
Rangappa made small pellets of sandalwood paste; wrote a picture of Anjaneya with them on the wall and reciting Hanumad Bhujana Stotra (written by Adi Shankaracharya) encircled the picture once with the tail . He went on the same way for 48 days and on 49th day, his Guru came to Nulenur. He was Sri Shankara Bhagawan, one of the main desciples of Sri Seshachala Maharaj of Anandavana Agadi.
Both of them conversed about Guru for a day and night . Next morning Shankara Bhagavan asked Rangappa to go around village chanting Chidambara's name and beg. Rangappa willingly went, begged and put the proceeds at the feet of his Guru.
There upon Sri Shankara Bhagavan gave upadesha of Rama manthra to Rangappa.
Sri Shankara Bhagavan also initiated Rangappa in Upasana of Devi.
Next year Shankara Bhagavan came to a village about 30 kms away from Nulenur and there he fell ill. Rangappa went there and served his Guru. During that period some devotees of Devi invited Bhagawan to attend the worship and grace the seat of Guru(Guru mandala). Devi was worshipped with first five 'M' and the Bhaktas asked Rangappa to take prasadam and give it to others. Rangappa refused. They objected to it. You teach Advaitha but fail to practise it" Rangappa said "we practise Bhavadwaitha not kriyadwaitha " Hereing this Shankara Bhagavan said 'Sheshachala sent Maya to test Ranganna. But can she pollute him!."
After some years Shankara Bhagavan invited Ranganna to Thippapura where a Laksha Brahmana Santarpane was going on. There the guru taught his sishyas for six months. He found that Ranganna had aleady achieved his goal. He asked Rangappa to return to his native place.
Rangappa got ready and prostrated before the Guru reverently. Bhagavan adorned his head with a saffron cloth and said "Ranganna everything is ready in you. But it will take sometime for you to become Guru. This pot(meaning hi body) will not be present at that time. So when you see me in another form you will see Dattatreya in middle of Surya Mandala. He will say "my work is over" on seeing you. Remember, he is me.
Returning to Nulenur Rangappa gave away equal share of his self earned property to his brother Sheshagiri. Also he gave him the house in which he lived. Kept apart a land for their mother. He constructed a small house for himself and shifted to the new house.
Mother Subbamma who lived with her younger son for a few days came over to Rangappas home.
In 1927, Anaji Yellappa came to Nulenur and was warmly greeted by Rangappa. He said "Ranganna you are a very eligible sadhaka among as and I came to see you. Also I want to eat Chakkuli prepared by Parvathi."
One day Parvathamma asked her uncle Yallappa "Uncle take your bath' Yallappa said 'who requires a bath?'
When sitting for meals he mixed the dishes served and took one small gulp to his mouth. It fell down. Parvathamma said 'Uncle the food has fallen down' Yallappa responded "Um, which is up and which is down?'
Then Parvathamma made him eat food. Prepared a bed for him and asked him "uncle please sleep". Yallappa responded "who is awake and who is asleep."
Ranganna his wife thus he was like Drona. I learnt my first lessons of Atmavidya from him along with Thumbigere Chidambara " Now He is in Ajagaraavasthe.
One day Yallappa returned to his place where his son lived. After a few days the shocking news of his death reached Nulenur.
The same year Subbamma mother of Rangappa left this world for Vaikunta, her abode. Gods whom she invoked would come and give darshan to her. She never thought ill of anybody who maltreated her. Rangappa always obeyed her. He never underwork any work without her permission. May the noble mothers memory keep us on the right path.
After some time the news of Mahasamadhi of Sri Shankara Bhagavan reached Nulenur. Rangappa told the members of the household "Appa became one with Seshachala's holy feet." He lit two lamps and observed a Saptaha (Seven days of worship).
Once his holiness Sri Sri Valukeshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Kudali Sringeri Jagadguru Peetha camped at Holalkere. While delivering Ashirvachana (Lecture), blessing the devotees, he asked the gathering 'what does 'Is' mean' and waited for an answer. Nobody offered an answer. Rangappa stoodup and said 'I am like an atom before the Jagadguru Peetha. Still I am offering my humble answer to the question. That which is visible to the physical eye 'is not' but that which is not visible to the eye, and that which causes the physical eye to see 'Is".
His holiness the Jagadguru Mahasamsthana was overjoyed. 'Ranganna' his holiness your answer is most apt. you have the blessings of Sri Sharada Sri Chandramoleeshwara. The world will be highly benefited by your knowledge'.
Uddhava Chidghana a desciple of Samartha Brahmachaitanya Maharaj came to Nulenur, tested Rangappa severely and said 'Ranganna your interpretation of Bharatha, your incomparable patience make you a great person you are blessed by Sharada. You are Vanivarada Rangaraja. I am transferring all my tapas to you."
Even when Shankarabhagavan was coming to Nulenur, Rangappa was practicing Swaroopanusandhana (ie., identifying one's self with Brahma ie., Atma)
After Bhagavan's Mahasamadhi he was always practicing it and became one with atman. He seemed to be a person, but he had become vishwatma. He had neither Vidhi or Nishidha. He immersed himself in Brahma. He easily crossed the ocean of birth and death. He realized that he was omnipotent, omniscient Parabrahma. How can one present his achievement.
In April 1931 Rangappa decided to celebrate Jayanthi of Sri Seshachala Maharaj, his paramaguru. Many Sishyas arrived at Nulenur for this celebration. A day prior to Jayanthi, Parvathamma breathed her last. Ranganna went near the body and said "If you go now, all the devotees who have come for Jayanthi will be inconvenienced. So come back." Parvathamma got up and said "why did you call me back, when I was going.
Next day after the celebration of Jayanthi she put her head on lap of Ranganna and became one with the lotus feet of her husband. Shankaralinga used to say, "She was my Shakthi"
Some months later he went to Bharamasagara to participate in the Upanayana ceremony of Sathyanna, son of his brother in-law Anaji Ramanna. There he delivered a lecture on Bhakthi in the Anjaneya temple.
"Bhagavantha's nature is that of pure love. He creates, sustains, annilates, suppresses and blesses with sheer power of Bhakthi. In the world love is seen as friendship, respect, kindness, moha, Kama and hatred are also forms of love. A man cannot attain God by intellect (Buddhi). But Satsanga makes the attainment easy. Love towards God is Bhakthi, which is of nine kinds.
Shravana, Keertana, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, dasya, Sakhya and Atmanivedana. Thumburu, Narada, Gajaraja, Dhruva, Prahlada, Ambarisha, Anjaneya, Vibhishana, Sabari, Akrura, Udhava, Vidura, Arjuna, Gopis, attained God by Bhakthi.
Bhakthi can be compared to division in Mathematics. The world is the dividend, Bhaktha is the divisor, and happiness and sorrow are quotients. The remainder that has no beginning, middle or end is God. If one reposes full faith in him, he will appear in the form of Guru and bless you. By His anugraha our ego is annihilated.
Sat-Chit, Ananda, nithya, paripurna parabrahma appeared in this world by the name of Seshachala of Anandavana, Agadi."
Saying this Rangappa started to sing Seshachala, Sheshachala, Seshachala... Paahimaam, paahimaam, Bhaktavatsala.
His Bhakti was over brimming and the whole sabha began singing Bhajan and experienced Ananda as it had never experienced before.