The experience of *Swami Amrithananda*, a very senior disciple of *Sri

Ramana Maharshi…*

As soon as Swami Amrithananda reached Prasanthi Nilayam, Baba

accosted him,
"Amritham," and, he was genuinely astonished at the familiarity and even
the
affection with which that call was saturated, for, he said, "Only Ramana
Maharshi with whom I spent 17 years used to accost me thus and the
voice and
manner were exactly the voice and manner of the Maharshi!"

Later, Baba asked the 85-year-old Swami, about a Ganapathi Homam

(ritual
worship of Lord Ganesha) that he had performed for 41 days as a 7 year
old
boy! He then told the swami all the details of that Homam, including the
long involved Manthra with which the offerings were placed each time in
the
fire.

Baba told him that he had repeated this Manthra a 1000 times a day, for 41
days and made as many coconut offerings in the Fire of the sacred Homa.

"What is the reward promised in the Sastras?" Baba then asked the old
ascetic.

The Swami answered that the Sastras declare that if the Homa is done
with
scrupulous regard for ritual, Ganapathi Himself will appear in the
Homakunda
as the golden-colored effulgent elephant-headed God and with His trunk
He
will receive the final and concluding offerings and He will grant
everlasting Bliss by means of the Darshan!!!

Baba asked Him whether he had the Darshan.

Swami Amrithananda replied that it was not so easy for a 7 year old boy to
get the Darshan of the Lord, by the mere number and quantity of offerings
and Manthras.

*But, Baba interrupted him and said, "No, no. It is due to all that Japa and
all that Homa only you have come to me now. You will today, after an
interval of seventy eight years get the reward, mentioned in the Sastras!!!"
*

Then, He asked the Swami to look at Him and, lo, Amrithananda saw the
golden
coloured Elephant, the Ganapathi as described in ancient texts! He was
beside himself for about four days after this Darshan and in total Bliss."

*"Do not be led away by doubt and vain argument; do not question how
and
whether I can do all this. The cowherds of Brindavan also doubted whether
the little boy who grew in their midst could lift Govardhanagiri Mountain
and hold it aloft! The thing needed is Faith, and more Faith!!! – BABA***