Brinda P. Rao

When I first met Pujya Ajja fifteen years ago in Puttur, I was struck by his simplicity,
humility and child like sweetness which surrounded him. I enquired Ajja whether reading
many books on religion and philosophy has any value in the spiritual path.
He answered that nothing went waste. Studying books on subtle matters made the
intellect very sharp and the person would be able to grasp many nuances of thought
structures correctly, without misinterpretation. But one had to go beyond the words and
search in one’s own heart for the Truth- which was the fountain head of all wisdom.
There were further many occasions to sit at his feet, listen to the questions put and the
lengthy discussions that followed on the ultimate Liberation of man as proclaimed by our
ancient Rishis. Some of the words spoken by Ajja were very inspiring-
“To a hungry man if a picture of food is shown his hunger is not appeased. He needs
actual food to satisfy him. Simply reading religious books, talking about them parrot like
to show off one’s knowledge will never help. Only when you have the real hunger for the
Truth will you enquire & look deep within you with real passion and urgency.”
“The mind is full of prejudices, likes and dislikes, many types of fears and insecuritiesthe
conscious mind being only the tip of our psyche. Unless the mind as a whole is empty
of all these barriers clouding the inner Light, the inner journey cannot begin(the inner
“Light” our true ‘Self’ may not be experienced).”

How to stop the constant chattering of the mind was a oft repeated question.
Ajja replied that the mind could not be controlled, but could be observed in passive way
like a loving mother who had her attention on her child wherever it may be. Passive
handling would help it to go inwards naturally. A silent mind was the first step from
which spiritual enquiry would begin, resulting in real dhyana. Like the clear reflection of
the sun in still waters, the splendour of “That” would be reflected in a still mind.
If we could reproduce all that pujya Ajja said, it would perhaps fill volumes. It was our
good fortune that we could be with him for the past few years when many seeds would
have been sown by him in many seekers, which would surely fructify depending on the
intensity of those listened.

Once when requesting him for blessings, his touching response was that Divine grace was
flowing everywhere at all times. It was only a matter of opening ourselves to it and being
vulnerable to it.
Pujya Ajja was a rare flower of humanity which blossoms once in hundreds of years.
His memory brings forth much love, peace and adoration in one’s heart.


Brinda P. Rao