The Early Years🔗

Arunachalam's family celebrated the birth of their second child with traditional gaiety and revelry.

But the joy was to be short-lived. On the tenth day after his birth, in accordance with custom, the family astrologer was summoned to draw up the infant's horoscope. That venerable man declared in no uncertain terms, "Arunachalam, your family is honoured! This boy will grow up to be a Raja Sannyasi, a King among sannyasis^°. I am privileged to have been chosen to draw up this horoscope. After this, I cannot sully my hands by allowing any other horoscope to pass into them!" So saying, the astrologer gladly retired from his profession.

But the family was distraught at the news.

"Is there no parihara, no compensation, no offering we might make to bend the hand of Fate?" they pleaded.

"None that I know of," replied the astrologer, "But you could try keeping this horoscope hidden from the child. At best, it may help postpone the event."

Thus it was, that Rajasekaran's family religiously guarded from the young child the awesome truth of his own destiny.

But who dare thwart the plan of Existence?

Right from his second year, the boy began to show signs of a spiritual bent of mind.

Borne in the arms of his grandfather Raji Mudaliar, a master storyteller, the little Rajasekaran would daily do the rounds of Thiruvannamalai's numerous temples. With rapt attention,

– from 'Arunachala Ashtakam' Sri Ramana Maharishi