Paul Brunton came to Madras (now named as Chennai) in January 1931. He met the great author Mr K.S.Venkataramani. It was Mr Venkataramani who took Paul Brunton to the great sage of Kanchi, His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swami.
After the interview at Chingleput, Paul Brunton returned to Madras.
That night he saw the great sage in his vision.
He has narrated his experience in his own words:
“My astounded gaze meets the face and form of His Holiness Shri Shankara. It is clearly and unmistakably visible. He does not appear to be some ethereal ghost, but rather a solid human being. There is a mysterious luminosity around the figure which separates it from the surrounding darkness
Surely the vision is an impossible one? Have I not left him at Chingleput? I close my eyes tightly in an effort to test the matter. There is no difference and I still see him quite plainly!
Let it suffice that I receive the sense of a benign and friendly presence. I open my eyes and regard the kindly figure in the loose yellow robe. The face alters, for the lips smile and seem to say: “Be humble and then you shall find what you seek!”
The vision disappears as mysteriously as it has come. It leaves one feeling exalted, happy and unperturbed by its super-normal nature. Shall I dismiss it as a dream? What matters it?” Paul Brunton went to Thiruvannamalai and met Maharishi Ramana. He was attracted by Bhagavan Ramana. He stayed there. He started asking various questions. It was at Thiruvannamalai he understood the mysteries of the Holy Hill Thiruvannamalai.
On the twenty-third of January 1936 he asked very many questions to Bhagavan
Ramana.
Mr Brunton asked Bhagavan if the Hill here is hollow.
Maharishi: The puranas (Hindu sacred scriptures) says so. When it is said that the Heart is a cavity; penetration into it proves it to be an expanse of light. Similarly the Hill is one of light. The caves etc. are covered up by that Light.
Brunton: Are there caves inside?
Maharishi: In vision I have seen caves, cities with streets etc., and a whole world in it.
Brunton: Are there Siddhas (Holymen of highest order) too in it?
Maharishi: All the Siddhas are reputed to be there.
Brunton: Are there only Siddhas or others also?
Maharishi: Just like this world.
Brunton: Siddhas are said to be in the Himalayas.
Maharishi: Kailas is on the Himalayas; it is the abode of Siva. Whereas this Hill is Siva Himself. All the para-phernalia of His abode must also be where He Himself is.
Brunton: Does Bhagavan believe that the Hill is hollow, etc.?
Maharishi: Everything depends on the viewpoint of the individual. You yourself have seen hermitages, etc., on this Hill in a vision. You have described such in your book.
Brunton: Yes. It was on the surface of the Hill. The vision was within me.
Maharishi: That is exactly so. Everything is within one’s Self. To see the world, there must be a spectator. There could be no world without the Self. The Self is all comprising. In fact Self is all. There is nothing besides the Self.
Brunton: What is the mystery of this Hill?
Maharishi: Just as you have said in Secret Egypt, “The mystery of the pyramid is the mystery of the Self, “so also the mystery of this Hill is the mystery of the Self. Brunton understood the mystery of the Holy Hill Arunachala. He introduced Bhagavan Ramana to the west in his book A search in secret India published in 1935. He had spent several months at Ramanasramam. His next book The Secret path outlined the Maharishi’s “Who Am I” technique of self enquiry.
S. Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 3000 articles in 18 magazines and published 52 books. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V. Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. He has written articles on Yoga, laughter, efficacy of mantras and sound, Hypnotism, Tele Kinesis, Power of Prayer, Vastu and Feng Shui, Auto suggestion, Success Formula, Out of Body Experience etc.
