Tirumalacharya, the author of Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam, used to live here. He had served in the royal court of Venkatagiri. He was a great scholar in Sanskrit and Shastras. He accompanied Bhagavan to Badrinath at the advanced age of ninety. Bhagavan asked him whether he was fit enough to undertake such arduous journey. He affirmed that with Swami by his side, he would travel any length of journey without any discomfort. (Cheers) He said, ‘Sai Mata, if You forsake me, my entire existence is a waste. If You accept me as Yours, it is as if I have everything at my command.’ That was the state of Bhakti and surrender in which Tirumalacharya spent his life. He was constantly meditating on Sai Mata. He spent all his time in Swami’s proximity, whether it was here or in Brindavan. His Bhakti was beyond measure. Consequently, his end was peaceful.
He very well knew that his end was approaching and one day expressed his feeling. On being questioned as to how he knew about it, he replied, ‘ Swami is telling me from within.’ Saying so, he went for his bath, brought some water, washed Swami’s feet and sipped a few drops of the sanctified water and said, ‘Swami my life has found fulfilment.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते |
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ||
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ||
Purnamadah purnamidam Purnat, Purnamudachyate; Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnameva Vashishayte’ (The whole is all That. The whole is all this. The whole was born out of the whole. Taking the whole from the whole, what remains is also the whole). Physically, mentally and spiritually, I have attained this wholesomeness. Now the time has come for me to merge in You.’ Thereafter, he cast off his mortal coil and merged in Swami. There is no shortage of men filled with Bhakti of this kind in the world. It is only because of the presence of such devotees that the world is able to sustain itself. (SSS Vol.33, pp.32-34)