The soft and warm rays of the morning sun glide over green tree tops on to the red tiled roof of the house nestled among coconut palms, and reach the open veranda (arugu) in the front of the house.
An elderly man clad in white comes out on to the veranda and stands quiet and still for a few moments. He goes about his daily activities, his every movement calm and serene. He then sits in his usual chair on the veranda totally relaxed, a soft smile on his face as if a secret joy from within him is spilling over on to his countenance. A few women walk through the main entrance of his home and stand hesitant. He looks at them and his smile widens into open pleasure. He invites them with a gesture and they sit at his feet gazing at him, their faces flooded with happiness. More men and women come and sit quietly gazing at him. He looks around embracing each person with his loving glance. Men and children receive the additional benevolence of his touch; as he softly caresses their arms and back or cups their face with his hands and gazes fondly at them. Little boys in school uniforms come and wait. He glances at them, inclines his head and nods, a tiny almost imperceptible movement, and they silently leave having received their daily dose of grace and blessing.
Some of the visitors offer him fruits and sweets; he accepts them gracefully, returns a portion to them and gives the remaining to the others sitting around. Someone brings a special offering from a holy place they visited, someone else an attractively wrapped packed of sweets or an expensive gift. He accepts them with eagerness and joy of a child as if he had been longing for it; examines each with a candid and child-like pleasure and asks questions about it with child-like innocence. Then with a huge smile, he gifts it to another among the persons sitting around, and promptly forgets about it as he turns to the next person. This is the daily routine of Sadguru Sri Nannagaru on the “arugu” (open verandah) of his home in Jinnuru. A couple of hours in the morning and late afternoon are allotted to his followers who come daily. For years, the “arugu” has been a silent witness to the words of wisdom that gushed forth through Nannagaru’s lips and to the radiance of love and endearment that spilled from his eyes and countenance. It also stands witness to the joys and sorrows of many who sought guidance and support to go forward. Devotees come every day to soak in his love and drink in his words; and they keep coming back thirsting for more. For them the “arugu” has no equal on this earth, it is heaven itself!
On this arugu, seekers found direction and guidance, the troubled received solace, and uninitiated got their first glimpse of a new road to happiness.
