After the Mahanirvana of Bhagavan, Sri Annamalai Swami continued his sādhana exactly as instructed by Bhagavan for many years, staying in the same place that Bhagavan had asked him to. This sādhana culminated in his attaining Self-Realization. Sundaram Swami, caretaker of Sri Annamalai Swami for 21 years recollects life during those days.

Seva begins

When I walked into Sri Annamamali Swami’s house and prostrated to him, Swami welcomed me and said ‘Think of your life until this moment as a dream and forget it.’ I accepted his words and lived by it. Immediately I started to immerse myself in Guru Seva, by attending to Swami’s needs, buying basic supplies, cooking, cleaning, taking care of outside work, etc.

In those days there was just the 1 room and a small kitchen area. Devotees from nearby villages used to come once in a month or so and spend a few days with Swami. They would bring groceries and other essentials for the house. Sri Annamalai Swami had narrated to me how Chadwick supported him for 8 to 10 years and the circumstances that brought that to an end. He also narrated how Bhagavan’s grace had ensured that his needs continued to be taken care of. As soon as Chadwick’s support ended, he began to receive help from devotees in a village called Thellar, near Vandavasi (about 75 km from Tiruvannamalai). Jayaram Mudaliar, Kuppuswami Achari and Adhiveeraragavan Pillai became regular supporters. Sri Annamalai Swami called them Mummurthigal (referring to the three Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). Whenever they came they would bring rice, paruppu (lentils) etc. They would stay for a few days even though the house was very small.

Regular Satsangs begin

In 1978 Sri Annamalai Swami suggested that it would be good if we built a room for me to stay and had it built for me. As contributions began to trickle in, we built a small kitchen. 1982 onwards, a few western devotees came to know about Sri Annamalai Swami and began to visit him. I remember Mira (from Japan), David Godman (from England), Parmar (from Canada) and a few more. Sri Annamalai Swami decided to help them. Daily from 3:30 to 5 PM he would conduct Satsang to help them. I became the translator for Swami, whenever he spoke to them. Swami’s teachings and advice were entirely based on what he learned from Bhagavan. He would ask devotees to follow books such as Naan Yaar, Yoga Vashishtam, Ribhu Gita, Kaivalya Navanitam and Ashtavakra Gita.He would primarily give them Bhagavan’s upadesam (teachings).

He would often say:

Then he would bless them and give them tea.

With the increase in western devotees, more funds were available. In addition to Swami’s living room and small kitchen, we constructed a Satsang hall, a small room where Swami could have his meals and then an even smaller store room. In that store room, Swami had a row of pots in which we stored rice, lentils and other staples needed for cooking.

Sri Annamalai Swami’s routine

Despite any outward routine, Swami always seemed to be in dhyānam (meditation), ever alert, ever balanced. It was a great blessing to be of service to such a jnāni for so many years.

At 5:30 a.m. I would serve Swami his morning drink. 1 spoon of Horlicks, 1 spoon of Complan, 1 spoon of honey, all mixed in water, since Swami’s stomach did not take milk too well. He would continue to be in his meditative mood. Around 8:30 he would go for his morning walk for an hour. Breakfast would be ready when he was back. He would sit for a while in his room. He also spent time in a garden, cleaning up the weeds and plucking flowers for Bhagavan. He developed this garden himself. He would then see any devotees who came for his darshan and give them Bhagavan’s upadesam. Around 3:30 he would conduct satsang. Around 6 pm he would go for his evening walk. After coming back he would sit or walk around, always in that dhyānam mood.

After 8 p.m he would sit outside the Samādhi room and ask us to sing Ribhu Gita or Ramana Pādha Mālai. After the chanting, he would clear any doubts that devotees had. This was followed by dinner. And around 10 p.m. Swami would retire. He would stay reclined on his bed. I could not call it sleep either.

The Samādhi temple and shrine

In the year 1985 Sri Annamalai Swami had his Samādhi temple built, next to his house. He then installed a Shiva Lingam and worship was performed daily.  After his Mahāsamādhi, his divine body was placed in this temple and following his instructions we placed a photo of Sri Bhagavan where he indicated. Every year on the November 9th (Swami’s Mahāsamādhi day), Arādhana is performed for this Samādhi shrine. Below are various photos of Sri Annamalai Swami and the Samādhi shrine.

The last few years

The years 1993-95 saw an increase in visitors to meet Sri Annamalai Swami, especially jnānis from India and abroad. Two of Osho’s disciples who were enlightened beings, Sri Samdarshi and Sri Poornanand, came for darshan. The Guru of Santi Malai Trust came as well. A German Jnani Hugo Mayor came with his wife for darshan. Another western devotee jnāni Mario Menthes came to see him and got his blessings. I remember all these vividly, especially since I had to translate the conversation from Tamil to English and vice-versa. One morning in 1994, around 9 a.m. Visiri Swami Sri Yogi Ram Surat Kumar came with his devotees. Sri Annamalai Swami had gone for his morning walk. After he returned, he spent some time with them.