In 1915 Chellappa Swamy attained Maha Samathy in March on பங்கனி மாத அச்சுவினி
Chellappa Swamy told his devotees to look out for the play, indicating that he was going to perform on that day and attained Maha Samathy. He wanted his body to be cremated and gave instructions to his nephew Sabaratnam. Sabaratnam conducted all his last rites as per Chellappa Swamy’s wishes and dispersed the ashes in the sea.
The hut where Chellappa Swamy lived in Nallur has been protected and cemented into an Ashram. Daily, monthly and annual poojas and Guru Poojas take place regularly which are conducted by his family and the temple priest.
Natchinthanai songs and Thiruvasakam songs are recited daily in the ashram. Chellappa Swamy with his spiritual guidance was able to recognise Yogaswamy’s ripeness and maturity in him. Yogaswamy became the spiritual heir and continued to transmit the illumination of Siva consciousness to the devotees who sought his guidance.
The property just opposite the Illupai tree where Yogaswamy was immersed in his
meditation belonged to Mr and Mrs Sampanthan. Mr Sampanthan passed away after the
birth of their only son Thirunavukarasu in 1910. In 1914, Mrs Thangamma Sampanthar and
her brother Mr Vallipuram (Udaiyar) and his sister-in-law Mrs Vallipuram, (sister of Vidaniar Thirugnanasampanthar) along with Thirunavukarasu (4 years old) approached Yogaswamy who was under the Illupai tree and invited Yogaswamy to occupy the vacant hut for any length of time in her property. The request which was made by a lady of great character (pure, innocent and generous heart) was accepted by Yogaswamy and he agreed to reside in that hut. This hut later became the venerated spot where everyone with all different backgrounds both great and small humbly prostrated always!
The hut was very old made up of mud floor and thatched roof. A person called NANNIYAR had a small shop in that hut. He had aggressive faith in Chellappa Swamy. When Chellappa Swamy was passing by the hut, Nanniyar tied Chellappa Swamy to a post in the hut and performed pooja to him with camphor and oil lamps from his shop. Then this spot became very sacred and a holy place on earth. When Swamy Vivekananda visited Jaffna, while going on a procession seated in a carriage along Columbuthurai road, before passing the hut he stepped down and walked past the hut saying that this place was “an oasis in the desert”.
A small wall divided the hut to incorporate two rooms. Yogaswamy occupied the South side and the North side was used for his personal prayers and to keep clothes.
The Pilliar temple garden opposite the hut had a portion of land with a boundary wall. Yogaswamy housed the Chellappa Swamy’s ‘THIRUVADI’ in this place and continued his worship. Chellappa Swamy’s devotees from Columbuthurai and Nallur who knew the background to Yogaswamy’s initiation by Chellappa Swamy continued to worship
Yogaswamy. They had great deep-rooted devotion within their hearts, for Yogaswamy, they treated him outwardly as a friend. Among them was a devotee named THURAIAPPA (detailon page 29/30). THURAIAPPA was singing THEVARAMS (Hindu Hymns) at the Nallur Temple and at the steps of the THERADI (தேரடி ) started to visit the hut and continued singing THEVARAMS in the presence of Yogaswamy! This was the first significant act towards changing the hut as the “Temple of the living God”.
The rest of the world was beginning to see and feel the step change in the behaviour of Yogaswamy in the hut compared to the violent/mad behaviour that he displayed under the Illupai tree.In a relatively short time, there was a big change in Yogaswamy’s attitude and outlook.
Mornings started with clearing the compound around the hut. The Northern room incorporated “holy sandals” – Thiruvadi, decorated with flowers. Whenever Yogaswamy was seen out on his walks, there was a marked change in his appearance. His shining bright face, penetrating eyes, the white flowing beard, silver white hair well combed and tied in a neat knot gave a majestic appearance. Holy ash (vibuthi) lavishly spread on his forehead and a folded shawl over his shoulders. He always held an umbrella in his hand.
Yogaswamy frequently visited the famous Shunmuganathan book shop and well-known native physician Kasthuriar Muthukumaru who treated the poor and needy for free and also provided travelling expenses to those who came from far off places. Those who went there had the good fortune to receive medicines from the famous physician and had the good fortune to receive divine blessings from Yogaswamy.
