After our first visit to lyah in Sursee, Luzern, Switzerland, we visited lyah for the next 25 years.
We stayed in the same hotel Hirsehen in Sursee during all our visits.
Santhaswamy joined us in Sursee during our holidays with his nephew Oliver and niece Meredith on a couple of occasions.
We drove from England to Switzerland and visited every Canton (county) in Switzerland, enjoyed cable car and cable train rides, the lakes, visits to various Zoos, model houses, museums, parks, botanical gardens, caves and boat trips on Sursee sea.
Santhaswamy enjoyed walking through the fields and to the top of the hill to reach a big cross in Alberswill in Ettiswil.
Santhaswamy always spent Christmas with us in Birmingham and I took him to the plant to see my massive Christmas card and he was very pleased and commented it was all Appu’s Grace.
Santhaswamy was staying in his ancestral property in Ovington, Winchester with his brother Sir Peter Ramsbotham. Sir Peter Ramsbotham was on his own after the death of his first wife. When Sir Peter Ramsbotham remarried in 1986 Santhaswamy built a small ashram on the same land and moved into his ashram which was very much the same size as Appu’s old ashram in Columbuthurai, Jaffna.
Santhaswamy was fully engaged in writing Lord Prayers and Positive Thoughts for daily meditation. His daily routine consisted of walking around his own land and the village. He was a very well-liked and respected person in the local village.
Santhaswamy took both myself and my wife Sivayogi to the House of Lords on a tour. When we had lunch in the House of Lord’s dining room, there was no vegetarian food on the menu. We ordered food on the menu and I remember Santhaswamy took his plate with the meat and vegetables and filtered the meat from the plate saying “there are more important things to worry about than this piece of meat” and then enjoyed his lunch.
I remember that this day was the day one of Swamy’s long standing family friends, the famous Pilot Leonard Cheshire was ordained into the House of Lords. I remember Santhaswamy commenting that the members of the House of Lords referred to the House of Commons from the balcony as the “other house”.
During this period, Ford Motor Company acquired Jaguar Land Rover in addition to Aston Martin. I was sent to Aston Martin car plant to improve the company’s performance. Aston Martin’s body components, mainly composite lightweight parts, were produced in France and it was necessary for me to undertake frequent visits to France to conduct various manufacturing reviews with French manufacturers over there.
Sir Peter Ramsbotham with his extensive knowledge of French wine used to produce a selection of wines list which I used to bring from France on my return.
My journey to France by sea was between Portsmouth and St Marlow and overland to the manufacturing base. I arrived in Portsmouth very early (5AM) and drove to Santhaswamy’s ashram to deliver the wines for Sir Peter.
When I arrived around 6AM in Santhaswamy’s ashram Ovington/Winchester, he would be ready with marmite on toast and a cup of tea for me. Guru’s love is greater than your own mother’s love.
“தாயினும் அன்பு தளைத்த குருவே”
Santhaswamy always had a copy of my holiday plans that normally coincided with my plant shut down periods. Santhaswamy always stayed with us in Birmingham. Sometimes we spent our holidays in Switzerland, visiting Vijayanada Sarma (Aiya). Aiya used to stay with Santhaswamy at Sivathondan Nilayam at Sengalady and assisted Santhaswamy to perform all his farming activities. After Santhaswamy’s return from Ceylon to the UK in 1984, he used to spend every Christmas until 1997 in Birmingham. Last Christmas in 1997, he required physical assistance for bathing and other chores, which I provided in our house. When I assisted him like this, he asked ‘did you do this to Swamy?’ and I said ‘yes’.
My mother who was staying with us in Birmingham passed away in February 1998. Santhaswamy was admitted to the Alresford nursing home in March 1998. I was able to visit Santhaswamy in the Alresford Cottage regularly during the weekends and during the weekdays as and when required. Our parent company Ford, which owned Aston Martin and JLR, was planning to launch a brand-new medium size Jaguar (XJS) car along with a Ford town car. Both vehicles were based on a common platform. All key component suppliers were based throughout the USA. Certain key chassis and powertrain component parts were common to Jaguar Cars. Based on the above requirements, I was asked to move to the USA. I agreed to work in the USA during the weekdays and fly back to the UK during the weekends in order to continue with my community services (running a Tamil school) and visiting Santhaswamy in the Alresford Cottage. I remember one weekend I could not return from the USA due to operational reasons. I rung Santhaswamy in the Cottage to advise him of my predicament. On my return the following weekend, when I went to Santhaswamy, the first thing he said to me was, “the crisis is over! You are back!”. This message got embedded into my mind, and I never missed a single weekend to visit Santhaswamy in the Cottage until his Samathy on 12th December 2004. My visits helped the Cottage staff to understand the needs of Santhaswamy’s (they called him Lord Jim) requirements. I still do not know whether the “crisis” was for Jaguar or Ford. Or maybe it was for him or me. I was just happy that whatever crisis it was, it was over!
Santhaswamy always enjoyed a drive around the countryside in Winchester, normally 40 to 50 miles round trip. I always took him in a variety of Jaguars and Range Rovers, very much the same way as I used to do for Appu in Jaffna on the wheel chair that Santhaswamy got for Appu. Most of the time we drove to his ancestral home where his brother Sir Peter resided and very often we would have some cake and tea with his family. The nursing home staff thought that I was his “son” knowing that he spent significant time in Ceylon and when they asked me whether I was his son, my reply to them was “I am more than a son to him!”. Every week when I visited Santhaswamy, I took the required set of clean clothes, fruits and vegetables to ensure he had a good stock of everything that he needed for the week. His favourite ‘Fuchsia flowers’ were replaced in his room. During the week Sir Peter used to call me to take his brother to some of their friends in the village and sometimes Sir Peter joined us on our drives. Sir Peter always commented on Jaguar cars and said he preferred to use the official Jaguar Daimler limousine instead of the Rolls Royce in Washington, when he was the UK ambassador in the USA.
I have taken both Santhaswamy and his brother Sir Peter to their sister Joan in Bath on day trips. On our return Sir Peter used to treat us with a good lunch. Santhaswamy enjoyed the sceneries particularly around ‘StoneHenge’ and historical sites in the West country.
From mid 2004 onwards Santhaswamy started avoiding taking meals. However, I offered them to him and he accepted the food.
I started going to the nursing home during the weekdays in addition to the regular weekend visits, in order to ensure all his requirements were fully understood by all in the nursing home. I felt that my presence made him feel he could rest well!
I remember one day on my return from Alresford cottage to Birmingham, I slept on the steering wheel, and Appu woke me up by slapping me on my shoulder! I came home safely. I was perhaps too tired after walking several miles in the plant and having driven 300 plus miles per day, during this period.
In Swamy’s words, I was beginning to neglect “the other girl”! And it was a warning from above/Santhaswamy/Appu.
On Saturday 11th December 2004 Saturday, when I completed my usual duties in the cottage for Santhaswamy, I went to the village to get his regular supply of Fuchsia flowers from the florist. I was compelled by something within me, which drove me to buy a large bunch of big white lilies along with the usual supply of Fuchsia flowers for Santhaswamy.
When I took all the flowers to the cottage, the carers brought a large flower vase for the white Lilies and kept them in his room which made the room very fragrant, pleasant and calm. Before leaving the cottage, I personally refreshed Santhaswamy, by trimming his finger nails and toe nails and providing him with his favourite Asparagus soup meal for his dinner.
I never realised that it was my last good bye to Santhaswamy.
On Sunday 12th December 2004 Santhaswamy left this world for Appu.
On 12/12/2004 both Sivayogi and myself were doing our voluntary language and culture teaching in the local school for our community. I had a call from the cottage, which made me to go to the cottage immediately. I found Santhaswamy resting well in peace. I sang all the Natchinthanai and Sanskrit songs, which I learnt from Appu and sat with Sir Peter to discuss the final journey arrangement. Sir Peter wanted me to say a few words on the funeral day on 23/12/2004 in the church, and wanted me to publish all I knew about his brother Santhaswamy (Lord Soulbury). Santhaswamy’s final journey took place on 23/12/2004.
23rd December 2004
Between 10 am and 10.45 am Santhaswamy’s body was prepared to look similar to the appearance during his initiation on 20/12/1963. Prayers with Sivapuranam, Thirumurai, Natchinthanai and Sanskrit slogams were recited in Winchester, Hampshire. The church service was conducted in the family church from 11.30 am in Ovington, Alresford, Hampshire. Cremation was at 3.45 pm in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
24th December 2004
The holy Asthi was collected from Winchester, Hampshire and brought to Birmingham while reciting Sivapuranam, Thirumurai, Natchinthanai and Sanskrit slogams.
25th December 2004
Sivapuranam, Thirumurai, Natchinthanai and Sanskrit slogams were recited before the journey from Birmingham to London started. The holy Asthi journey started from
Birmingham at 5 am. At a particular location on the river Thames as per Santhswamy’s wish, the holy Asthi was dispersed in to the river Thames, London at 7.30 am with Nathchinthanai recitals. This ceremony was attended by my brother Dr K Sivayoganathan, Aiyah, (our family friend and one who served Santhaswamy for the entire period in Chenkaladi) and myself.
26th December 2004
Santhaswamy appeared in my dream and I felt that he was very thirsty.
Santhaswamy’s unfailing guidance was with me not only when I was a student but daily throughout my 30+ years in his presence and after his Samathy. Looking back on my personal life I fully realise Appu’s parable “everything that everybody needs has been sent in advance into the world before his arrival”, from Words of our Master (W.O.M) page 79.
One day in 2008, Mrs Ananthachy Carthikesan (after a very long time of 40+ years since I last met her) called me from her son Sakthi’s house in London and wanted to meet me in Birmingham. We organised a lunch for her and Sakthi. When they arrived in Birmingham, we took them to our shrine room, to do the normal prayers. As I was lighting the oil lamp, I asked my wife Sivayogi to play any one Natchinthanai song on the cassette player. We have several songs/of Natchinthanai by Mrs Bramananda and Othuvar. Sivayogi played one cassette. When I came to offer the prasaadam to aunty Kathikesan and Sakthi, I noticed that aunty was overwhelmed with tears in her eyes. When I inquired for the sudden burst of tears, she said “Eswaran, this song you are playing was the song that Swamy wrote for me in our house in Colombo, on a Thiruvathirai day before I got married”. We were all happy that Sivayogi selected that tape out of many. It was obvious that Appu got Sivayogi to select that particular tape and removed all doubts and blessed aunty.
That song is as follows:
ஞான தேசிகன்
பல்லவி
ஞான தேசிகனே சரணம்
நற்றவனே நல்லூர் வித்தகனே வருக
அனுபல்லவி
ஈனப் பிறவி நீக்கு மெழிலது கண்டேன்
என்னை யென்னாலறிந் தானந்தங் கொண்டேன் (ஞான )
சரணம்
காமக் குரோதமோகக் கடலைக் கடந்தேன்
கங்குல் பகலற்ற காட்சியைக் கண்டேன்
கருதுஞ் சுவாமியோக நாதனுன் தொண்டன்
தருமொரு வரமுண்டு அதுவெங்கும் மங்களம் தங்கும்படி யருள்தந்து இரட்சி (ஞான)
GNANA THESIKAN
Pallavi
I bow to thee, Gnanathesikan
Oh come the Nallur Pundit (Gnana)
Anupallavi
I have found a way to rid of this lowly birth I am happy to have understood myself by myself (Gnana)
Saranam
I have overcome this sea of hostility and lustfulness
Have seen the show of no day and no night
Considerate Yogaswamy is your thondan
Give you a boon that you will cherish
And please make this happen (Gnana)
During the last days in 1964 before Maha Samathy, after our regular evening prayers with Sivapuaranam and Natchinthanai songs, one day Appu asked me to sing “Athuvithaporul”(அத்துவிதப்பொருள்) daily.
அத்துவிதப் பொருள் காப்பாம்
அத்துவிதப் பொருள் காப்பாம் – எனக்
கடியார்களென்றென்றும் காப்பாம்
சித்தருந் தேவருங் காப்பாம் – என்றன்
சித்தத் திலங்குந் திருவருள் காப்பாம்(அத்து)
அட்ட வசுக்களுங் காப்பாம் – எனக்
கானந்த மான பராபரன் காப்பாம்
எட்டுத் திசைகளுங் காப்பாம் – எனக்
கெங்கும் நிறைந்த சிவசக்தி காப்பாம்(அத்து)
பிராண னபானனுங் காப்பாம் – என்னைப்
பிரியா திருக்கும் பிரணவங் காப்பாம்
அராவணி வேணியன் காப்பாம் எனக் – கருளை யளிக்குங்
குருபரன் காப்பாம்(அத்து)
பஞ்சப் புலன்களுங் காப்பாம் – என்னைப்
பரவு மடியவ ரனுதினங் காப்பாம்
குஞ்சர முகத்தவன் காப்பாம்-நல்ல
குழந்தை வடிவேலன் என்றென்றுங் காப்பாம் (அத்து)
சந்திர சூரியர் காப்பாம் – எங்குந்
தங்கு முயிர்க ளனைத்துமென் காப்பாம்
மந்திரந் தந்திரங் காப்பாம் – நான்கு
மறைகள் சிவாகமம் மாநிலங் காப்பாம் (அத்து)
MY PROTECTION
May That which is not to be my protection!
May devotees be always my protection!
May devas and siddas be my protection!
May the holy grace, that shines within my heart be my protection!
May the eight Vasus be my protection!
May the Transcendent Lord of Bliss be my protection!
May the eight directions be my protection!
May all-pervading Siva-Sakthi be my protection!
May prana and apana be my protection!
May Pranava that is inseparable from me, be my protection!
May He with matted locks adorned by snakes be my protection!
May the Supreme Guru, who bestows on me His grace, be my protection!
May the five senses be my protection!
May the devotees, who daily worship me, be my protection!
May elephant-faced one be my protection!
May the fair child, who wields the shapely lance, be my protection!
May the sun and moon be my protection!
May all beings everywhere be my protection!
May mantras and tantras be my protection!
May the four Vedas, the Sivagamas and the whole world be my protection!
Appu went on to explain to me all the lines of the song and when he came to the last 4 lines, he raised his hands and looked above and said, “From the sun and the moon on the sky to the earth, and all in between the sky and the earth, will protect you as I have tied up all the evils in order to protect you!” And pointed his hands to the floor.
During the same period, Appu got me to sing the following song frequently and he himself did the same during day and night.
தையல் நாயகித் தாயே
இது நல்ல தருணம் அம்மா
வையம் புகழும் வண்ணை மாநகரில்
வந்த வாமியே சிவகாமியே
கந்த சுவாமியைத் தந்த
தையல் நாயகித் தாயே
O Thayalnayaki, Mother Divine
This is the opportune moment, mother mine,
You have taken thy abode at Vannai Nagar Adored by the Saiva World, O Sivakami, Vami!
For the gift of Kandasamy, we praise
I assumed that his Thaiyal nayagi song is part of Appu’s creation. After my retirement, reading through the collections of articles about Appu, I came to realise that this song was closely associated with his Parama Guru Kadai Swamy.
I continued to follow his guidelines always during my morning and evening prayers.
I will treasure all the council and guidelines given to me by Appu and his disciples, which I know well beyond all doubts are more instructive than those in all the books on spiritual and philosophical wisdom could ever confer on me.
I will continue to pray to Appu – the Divine manifestation in human form and to all his disciples, to guide us for a true understanding of his Natchinthanai – the expression of divine truth which requires a life time of continual application.
Aum Shanthi
