Day of Deliverance
Significance of Easwarama Day
On the 6th of May, 1983, Swami continued the narrative, speaking in greater detail on “Easwaramma’s Day of Deliverance”
This day is Easwaramma Day. The significance of the day is that it is celebrated as Children’s Day, a day when little children are to be reminded of the ideal, a day when she presented an ideal. No one can escape death, but the aim of everyone should be to remind oneself at the time of death of the divine or have some holy or sacred thoughts. The importance of this day is known to many. There is a saying in Telugu: “The proof of the good is the way they die.” Genuine devotion is evidenced during the last moments. I shall point out a small incident concerning the goodness of Easwaramma.
The summer classes were on at Bangalore. In the morning at 7:00 breakfast had to be served to the students. They went round with Nagara Sankeertan and returned at 6:00. I gave them Darshan at its close. Then I went for my bath. Meanwhile, Easwaramma had finished her bath. She drank her coffee as usual quite happily and took her seat on the inner veranda. All of a sudden proceeding to the bathroom, she cried out, “Swami, Swami, Swami!” At this, I responded, “Coming, coming.” Within that period she breathed her last. What greater sign of goodness is needed? She had no need to be served and nursed. Swami will come to the memory at that time only for a very few. The mind will usually seek and stay on some object or the other, some jewelry or valuables. From the ground floor she called, “Swami! Swami!” I replied, “Coming, coming,” and she was gone. It was like the elephant’s calling (Gajendra of Indian mythology) and the Lord proceeding to bless it the two wires achieving connection, the release happening instantaneously.
This is the authentic consummation that life must strive for. Beside her at the time she had her daughter Venkamma and her granddaughter Sailaja but she called out only for Swami. Getting this yearning at the final moment is the fruit of holy purity. It is the sign of an ideal, adorable life. Such attitude must emerge of its own accord and not by means of some external force. Here is an example to learn from.