Kunju Swami was directed by passers-by to climb up the hill to reach Bhagavan. There were three paths and he did not know which to take. (This is symbolic for all seekers: when we want to reach the truth, we encounter doubts, problems and obstacles. However, if we are steadfast in our faith, this too will be resolved by the truth itself. What we need is perseverance, one-pointedness and faith.) He chose one of the paths and met a swami, a hefty man with long, matted hair and beard. Kunju Swami felt a little frightened because he had read in mythological stories about rishis who only gave curses. He ran back and encountered a stranger who asked him where he wanted to go. “I want to go to Ramana Maharshi,” he said. “Take this path,” the stranger pointed. As Kunju Swami walked up, at a spot a little above Virupaksha cave, he saw a small hut. Mudaliar Paati, who used to feed Bhagavan every day, lived there. On seeing this youth, she asked, “Where are you going?” “I want to have darshan of Ramana Maharshi,” replied Kunju Swami. “Go this way, take a dip in this stream and then go to Maharshi. We shall be bringing food for Ramana Maharshi and we will bring some for you also.” On the way, before reaching Skandashram, he wondered, “How can I pay my homage to my master? I am going to see him for the first time!”
On reaching there, he saw Bhagavan sitting and three people prostrating before him. One of them was his friend Ramakrishnan. The other two were Perumal Swami and one Swami Akhandananda. “This is the way I too will pay my homage,” he told himself. He too prostrated to Bhagavan and waited, because he had read in the Kaivalya Navaneetam and Jnana Vasishta that the guru will speak first and give an upadesa; until then one must not speak to him. At that time, Bhagavan turned to a lady who was weeping profusely and asked her, “Why are you weeping? You are weeping because you lost one son, but another son has come now.” The lady was none other than Bhagavan’s mother, Azhagammal. Much later, Kunju Swami learned that a man called Annamalai Swami had died that morning due to the plague and Bhagavan’s mother had been very fond of him as he had been of much service to her and to the others in Skandashram.
After some time, Bhagavan brought a charcoal stove, a small vessel and some ingredients. Kunju Swami had read that sages make magic potions and just by drinking them one could attain moksha. He thought, “What a fortunate boy I am! My master Ramana Maharshi is going to make a magic potion and give it to me on my very first day here.” Bhagavan made the potion, waited for it to cool and lifted a basket that was nearby. Four puppies lay huddled under it. The potion Bhagavan had made was just gruel for their feed! As the puppies ran helter skelter, Bhagavan turned to Kunju Swami and said, “Catch hold of all four of them.” Kunju obeyed, while Bhagavan readied to give them gruel on a small plate. Later, Kunju Swami said, “This was my