Later in our home village of Vadiveeswaram which is in the town of Nagerkoil now in Kanyakumari district, I was under the care of my grandparents Rama Iyer and Parvathi Ammal. Both were religious persons. There was regular pooja in the house and frequent Ganapathi Homam on Fridays was performed by my grandfather's brother Narayana Iyer. Every morning my Grand father did Ramayana Parayanam in which I participated and showed great fervor to participate in the Bhajans organised in the village and regular visit to the two temples-Azhagamman Temple and PerumalTemple-in the village right after having a bath in the nearby river [Pazhayar]or in the tank adjoining the temple

Right in my young age I was privileged to be accepted as a member in the Aurobindo Study Group by the village elders. Very deep impact was made in my mind by Ramana Maharishi who became realized soul in his very young age. I had the good fortune of having a Darshan of Swami Sivananda in my young age and receive his blessings. Later I became an active member of the Divine Life Society.Great Tamil scholars like Desiga Vinayagam Pillai and T.K.Chidambaranatha Muthaliyar(TKC) have blessed me and given the title 'Bala Bharathi' which motivated me to study the renowned works of Bharathiyar and other saintly scholars as Vallalar,Avviayar,Thirumoolar etc.,. and this ensured my growth in the path of God.

In the later years after my return abroad, I became an active follower of Swami Chinmayananda whose spiritual work I pursued with vigor. Having gone through his course of study and also listening to his series of talks in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads the fervor got increased. Later Sri Swamiji appointed me as the study group leader in Zurich, Switzerland.

The exposure to Ramakrishna Mission and early contacts to Swami Ranganathananda through my uncle Mahadevan gave me ample opportunities to listen to his talks and visit the Belur Mutt in Calcutta.The connection with the Ramakrishna Mission became intense during the later years of my stay in Europe by establishing close contact with Swami Ritajananda, president of Centre Vedanta Ramakrishna in Gretz, Paris.During the years of stay in Switzerland we both (Amma and Me) were invited by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to visit his World Head Quarters in Seelisberg near Luzerne on top of the hills. It was a delightful experience to receive his blessings and to witness levitation by his disciples and the foundation work for Maharishi Ayurved.Later in London, I had good exposure Hare Krishna Movement and visits to their temples and to The Ramakrishna Mission Centre in London - Swami Bhavyananda. Back in India, the vigor of spiritual study continued. In Madras, we had the privilege of close contacts with Ambattur Mouna Swamigal.

From 1966, frequent visits to Kancheepuram and great experience with the MahaPeriyaval(Senior Holiness of the Kanchi Mutt)who set the crown, gave me a strong insatiable urge to pursue Advaita. Over one year of intimate contacts with Doctor T.M.P Mahadevan, Director of the Advanced Centre of Philosophy in The Madras University was another good fortune

.By divine grace, I met Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar through whom the exposure to Lord Guruvayoorappan happened.Association with great Swamijis was a product of our settling in Madras. The blessings of Swami Dayananda and close association with him followed.The lost thread with Ramanashram was revived through my cousin Ananthaswamy and through my dear friend Dwarakanath Reddy. Visits to Thiruvannamalai followed.

Close connection was established with the Aurobindo Ashram through personal connections with stalwarts like Navajata,MP Pandit etc.,. I also took active part in the Madras Centre through Saroj Goenka. Divine made it possible for a personal audience with the Mother of Pondicherry. I was given an opportunity to serve as a consultant in Auroville Project.

During the years 1966 to 1974, we had the good fortune of frequent visits to Thirukovilur and close connection to Swami Gyananda Giri - a realized soul - whose blessings have been of immense value.

Subsequent years have been given opportunity to meet several Swamijis and Saintly People like Nishargatta Maharaj, Sathya Sai Baba and close personal association with Sri Sri RaviShankar and the Art of Living Organization enabling a renewal and revival of the atomic force through Sudarshan Kriya.Personal connection with Kamakshi Swamigal (an ardent disciple of Kanchi Paramacharya) deserves special mention.

Saints and saintly Institutions known to me since 1942