The Leela Enlightenment
Annamalai Swamigal – My first jnana guru
Lila dhyana – I always used to do that. I had Annamalai Swamigal who was a great Paramahaṃsa and ultimate disciple of Ramana Maharshi as My inspiration. Actually once Bhagawan was taking bath and he called Annamalai Swamigal to rub his back. He was scrubbing Bhagawan’s back with the brick and powder. Ramana Maharshi suddenly blew on his face. He became enlightened! He was so ecstatic with joy. To help him stabilize, Ramana Maharshi gave him a stick and said go few steps, squat and sit absorbed in Samādhi. He literally followed those words and for the rest of his life for the next 40 years he never moved away from that place! So I would always think of him. It is a very powerful method called Lila Dhyana.
Around the age of ten, The Avatār started going to Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai. On one of these occasions, a family member took him to meet Annamalai Swamigal. His meeting with Annamalai Swamigal and the subsequent happenings at the age of twelve are described here in His own words.
– HDH NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM