VII§
Sir Duraisamy was the first among the many political leaders to establish close connection with Swamigal. Mr. C. Mylvaganam had told about Yogaswami to Advocate Somasundaram of Nallur who was a friend of Sir Duraisamy. In 1921, Mr. Somasundaram himself took Sir Duraisamy to meet Swamigal. During that time, Sir Duraisamy was contesting for the assembly election for the first time. §
Sir Duraisamy had accounted his first meeting with Swamigal as follows: “In 1921 I was contesting in the election for Sri Lanka’s first reform assembly from North district. I went along with a friend to receive blessings from Swamigal. It was October, rainy season. The floor of the hut where Swamigal lived was all wet. They have laid a wooden plank to sit. I was very nervous to go there and face Swamigal. In those days, Swamigal was in divine ecstatic state (people used to say he was ‘mad’). I was fearful in my mind what Swamigal would say. We greeted Swamigal and sat on the wooden plank. We did not speak. Swamigal spoke and whatever he spoke, did not register in my mind. But at last Swamigal gave me a lime fruit. I was happy to receive it as Prasadam (holy offering) and returned.”§
Sir Duraisamy remained as a sincere devotee from 1921 till Swamigal attained Magasamadhi in 1964. Despite of many ups and downs Sir Duraisamy remained an ardent devotee Swamigal. Similarly, Swamigal also loved Sir Duraisamy very much, and never forgot to write letters to him wherever he went. This is very clear if one reads the publication, “Swami’s Thirumugangal” (Swami’s Letters). Whatever Swamigal thought (of implementing), Sir Duraisamy would put them into action.§
I want to mention here about a miracle Swamigal performed in the life of Sir Duraisamy. Sir Duraisamy was the leader of the ruling party and was invited for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. At that time, he was yet to receive the ‘Sir’ title. When the travel arrangements were being made suddenly he fell ill. The physicians advised him not to go.§
On those days, Swamigal was staying in Peradeniya with Mr. Velupillai, brother of Scholar Somasundaram. Swamigal felt Sir Duraisamy’s sickness from Peradeniya. One day, he gave Velupillai a list of herbs to buy. He took the list to the medical storekeeper who told him that these herbal medicines were highly toxic. Velupillai mentioned this remark to Swamigal and Swamigal told him not to mind that remark and requested him to boil them. Velupillai made a decoction of those toxic ingredients and gave to Swamigal. Swamigal consumed the drink and within a short time, started to vomit severely. Also He suffered from severe diarrhea motion. Velupillai became afraid and started crying. After some time Swamigal asked for some lemon juice and salted soda, mixed them in water and drank. Few hours later, Swamigal became well. The next morning Swamigal said, “Now Duraisamy can go to London. The treatment for his illness has been done. If he goes (to London) it will be good for him and the Tamil community”. Duraisamy went to London, and received the ‘Sir’ title from the Queen. He got this rare gift in his life due to the grace of Swamigal.§
Swamigal remained as though nothing had happened after this remarkable miracle. Velupillai also kept quite as he was afraid of Swamigal. He revealed this incident to me only after Swamigal attained Maha Samadhi. What a difference between Yogaswami and modern swamis who live in the world of publicity.§
If we attempt to compile and write all the miracles that Swamigal performed in the life of His close devotees, it would become an epic itself. Swamigal even had given legal advice to one of His devotees. Someone had lost his lands to his brother who was working as an officer in the railways. He sought Swamigal’s help and blessing. Swamigal advised him on what grounds to file the legal case and the exact approach to the case. Further, Swamigal instructed him to tell them (the opposition party) that He had given this advice on the case. That devotee did exactly as advised and won the case.§
It would be correct to say that the 1936 Jaffna election had really disturbed Jaffna. In the said election, Arunachalam Mahadeva and Nevins Selvadurai were contesting for the Jaffna constituency. Swamigal supported Mahadeva. But some of Swamigal’s close devotees, M.S. Eliyathambi, P.N. Suppaiya and Kalaipulavar Navaratnam supported Nevins. During those days Swamigal was in His ecstatic, angry state and used to wander in the streets singing and dancing. Finally Mahadeva won the election. Swamigal felt that Mahadeva was more suitable as he had good family background and personal qualifications.§
I want to narrate an incident, which will indicate Swamigal’s magnanimity. I was one of those who supported Nevins as a candidate. One day in Mani Iyer’s house, Swamigal and myself were having our meals when I happened to mention that, “People are saying, why Swamigal should get involved in politics.” Swamigal did not say anything. After this incident, I went to Swamigal’s Ashram after a few days. Swamigal started scolding me about what I said at Iyer’s house. The scolding went on from morning till evening; most of them were aimed at Kalaipulavar Navaratnam. In between scolding, He went to a neighbor’s house and brought two coconut leaf mats and also food for Him and myself to eat. Swamigal served the food himself, but it appeared He was not satisfied with the vegetable preparations. He said, “How can I serve you this food? (deserve better food)”. He went to another house and brought better vegetable preparation and served me before eating. §
I realized that the hand that beats will also embrace eventually. Usually, Swamigal used to scold and chase only His close devotees. The devotees accept that as blessings.§
In 1947 there was another election. A prominent Tamil leader wanted to contest against Mahadeva in the Jaffna constituency. Swamigal told the Tamil leader, “You need to be in parliament. Mahadeva also need to be in Parliament. So, you contest in some other constituency in which you are comfortable” because he was a very popular leader in the whole of Tamil community and not just in Jaffna. However He did not listen to Swamigal, contested, and won the election. But later, someone from his party and who was more popular and experienced contested. The popular leader lost the party candidacy. Only then, he regretted that he should have listened to Swamigal. That Tamil leader did not listen to Swamigal and it was a great loss for him and for the Tamil community.§