January 2024
A spirited talk by the Spiritual Scientist Pradeep Krishnan delves into the life and spiritual philosophy of Sri VSR Moorty, an
eloquent scientist and teacher who is known by the sobriquet ‘Spiritual Scientist’
We all might have come across spiritually inclined scientists. But has anyone heard of a ‘Spiritual Scientist’? About five years ago, I happened to get acquainted with such a unique Master living in Hyderabad.
During a visit to the Vishwajananee Parishat Ashram, Baptala, Andhra Pradesh, founded by Ma Anasuya Devi (1923–1985), affectionately addressed as Jillellamudi Amma, an article penned under the pseudonym ‘Spiritual Scientist,’ in the ashram magazine, The Mother of All, made me curious to know more about the author.
The writer, Shri Valluru Sriramachandra Moorty (aka VSR Moorty) was born on February 28, 1950 as the third son of Smt Sarojani Devi and Sri Nagabhushan Rao in Turumella village in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. He was brought up by his grandparents, Sri Bhujanga Rao, and Smt Durgamma, at Tenali. At the age of 12, he won the State Science Award for the article ‘Varahamihira and Brihat Samhita Kavya!’ When he was 18, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba fondly blessed him during a visit, with the sobriquet ‘Spiritual Scientist.’
True to the pen name, in life, he became adept, equally in science and spirituality. An engineering graduate in oil technology from HBT Kanpur, Sri Moorty helped in establishing many cost-effective oil plants all over the country. Several research papers written by him in the field are still well-appreciated in India and abroad. He relentlessly worked for the eradication of child labour and elimination of thalassemia, and was an academic council member of the Institute of Scientific Research, Hyderabad.
For the past five decades, with brilliant eloquence, he has delivered nearly 28000 discourses in India and abroad, presented 2700 talks on WorldSpace, TV, and radio channels, hundreds of speeches in various educational institutions, and authored 38 spiritual books. Sri Moorty’s pragmatic, positive, deeply spiritual, and harmonising attitude makes others flock to him to receive guidance on mundane and mystical matters.
Once, the late Padma Vibhushan Durgabai Deshmukh had advised Moorty, “You are educated; be creative and proactive. Live by ideals. Whichever field you belong to, disseminate that knowledge and skills to others. Keep updating your expertise with the changing times.” According to Sri S Mohana Krishna, his friend and author of several
“Loneliness is a curse. Solitude is serene and rewarding. Not a single minute of inactivity has a place in my schedule. I work for 18 hours a day. During the COVID period, I held online satsangs and wrote three books: Hanuman Chalisa, Upadesa Saram, and Godhuli, Quotes for Sadhana.” spiritual books, “The one quality that set him apart from the exponents of spiritual matters is that he always walked the talk. The idealism which is other-worldly is tempered with a here-and-now ground reality in the actions and words of Sri Moorty.”
Being blessed by several spiritual luminaries from his childhood, his spirituality is devoid of dogmatic beliefs and, in him, one can see the common thread running through the teachings of several great masters. Sri Moorty is respected by followers of different schools of thought, and he is a much sought-after person not only by seekers but also by administrators. At a time when religiosity rules over spirituality, the path shown by Moortyji would enable one to travel from ‘ritual’ to ‘spiritual.’
True to the words of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “Moorty Garu is an erudite scholar of our times. Interaction with him is always delightful and enlightening.” I have had several interesting interactions with him over the phone, WhatsApp, and email. Once, he advised me to follow the rule, “What I preach, I must practise” and to nourish the roots of knowledge, “because when the roots are fine and strong, the fruits will be excellent.”.
After the passing away of his wife Smt Rajeswari in 2014, Sri Moorty lives alone in Hyderabad as his daughter Smt Sarvani M is settled abroad. When asked if he has ever felt bored, he replied, “Loneliness is a curse. Solitude is serene and rewarding. Not a single minute of inactivity has a place in my schedule. I work for 18 hours a day. During the COVID period, I held online satsangs and wrote three books: Hanuman Chalisa, Upadesa Saram, and Godhuli, Quotes for Sadhana.”
Following are some excerpts from Pradeep Krishnan’s interactions with the unique master, who continues to guide and illuminate the hearts and minds of aspirants towards spiritual wisdom.
Early childhood
On the 21st day of my birth, by a providential act, my grandparents of advanced age chose to foster me, thereby severing the bond with my biological parents. From day one, they brought me up with care, attention, and pure love. My grandmother, adorning the role of a mother
and teacher, amused me with stories from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata. Astonishingly, while I was three years old, my grandfather, a landlord, got me work-books in Telugu and English, and made me read the headlines of The Indian Express! By imparting moral, ethical, and cultural values, they made my childhood pure and pious, and always wished that I should lead a purposeful life like that of Rama, and brave all situations with equipoise. I was able to grasp and retain the moral of all the stories told by my grandmother.
Initiation into the spiritual path
When I was four, my grandmother took me to a Mahatma, Sri Avadhutendra Saraswati Swamy, venerated for decades as Raghuvaradas for the propagation of Sankeertana Sampradaya. Giving me a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, he told me that if I rendered it by heart, he would give me a banana. I quietly left the room and after about 30 minutes, came back and rendered the 40 dohas (couplets) non-stop with proper diction and modulation. Utterly pleased and delighted, Swamyji, lifting me to his shoulders, blessed me: “Your name is Ramachandra; Hanuman
will ever be with you!” Thus, instantaneously, I was initiated into the realm of spirituality. Afterwards, for eight long years, I incessantly chanted the Chalisa, and I consider and revere Swamyji as my Deeksha Guru.
Association with Jillellamudi Amma Even during my first meeting, at the age of 12, Jillellamudi Amma was kind and compassionate. She left an indelible imprint on my mind and heart. Liberal in granting me close proximity, her benign looks, sweet words, and persona were always profound and distinct. Interestingly, I was able to visit her ashram only after 44 years in 2011, after her samadhi, for a spiritual conference as a guest speaker. It was like a homecoming, and since then, I have been visiting the ashram every month.
Amma spoke in a simple language to awaken the inner consciousness of individuals. She never dictated anything but gave paramount relevance and importance to human relations.
Jillellamudi Amma had a deep impact on Moortyji
Amma advocated teamwork for homogenous results, encompassing caste and creed. Her Mahamantra was, “Accept life as it comes. Attribute everything to the invisible Cosmic Energy and remain a witness to all that happens.”
Encounter with Sri Sathya Sai Baba and his teachings
Exactly a month after meeting Amma, I had the darshan of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 9 June 1962. His very first words, “waiting for you,” impregnated with great concern and compassion, still ring in my ears. Thereafter, my life took a new and dynamic turn, and the direct association with him for five and a half decades impacted the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual levels of my aptitude, attitude, and approach towards my sojourn on Planet Earth. Even after he turned formless, my association with his mission continues, perhaps till my last breath. When I was in my twenties, he fondly addressed me as ‘the Spiritual Scientist,’ a sobriquet the whole world later endorsed.
This is the quintessence of his teachings: At 18 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
the physical level, humanise, divinise, and spiritualise all thoughts and deeds, help ever, hurt never, love all, and serve all. At the spiritual level, since all are divine, one should conduct oneself in a righteous manner and through a right way of living. Human birth is to be ennobled. Baba’s message “service to society is the direct path to Nirvana,” became a global message.
Meeting the Paramacharya of Kanchi Mutt While I was a college student, during a visit in 1966, Sai Baba advised me to visit Kanchi. One day, while riding a bus, as it halted at the Elluru railway gate, I saw a slow-moving palanquin accompanied by several persons chanting, “Jai jai Sankara, hara hara Sankara.” I jumped out of the bus and ran towards the entourage. At once, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swami, the then Paramacharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, respectfully addressed as Maha Periyava (the great elder) in Tamil, a frail figure with shining eyes, sliding aside the curtain of the palki, peeped out and said to me, “For 40 days we will be in Elluru. Come there after college time.” I at once offered sashtanga pranam to him
by lying prostrate on the road. The bus had stopped there to enable me to have the darshan of the great saint. In the evening, when I went to the place where Swamiji was observing chaturmasya (four months of penance), he came out of his room and pointed out a particular place for me to sit and listen to the talks during the next 40 days. Then the Acharya remarked, “Life is a very short journey, a great chance to live on Earth, during which one must conduct themself properly, and wealth should be used for good causes. Acquire knowledge only to redefine and refine yourself. Whatever you study, go into the quintessence of it and offer it to the world. Never sell knowledge; impart knowledge.”
The Acharya did not talk to me during the rest of the days. On the penultimate day, while giving me prasadam, he said, “Life is a great celebration through Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana.
From Jnana one must move to Bhakti and then to Karma. The whole human race has come only to indulge in activity—good activities. Through activities that beget bliss to us, one can influence society.” My first initiation by the Paramacharya!
The next morning, when I went to him to take my leave, he said that out of 83,99,999 species that eat, sleep, crawl, and fly, humans alone are endowed with the power of reason and discretion. “A person who translates dharma into action and indulges only in dharmic activities can reach the Godhead very quickly. People say that man is a social animal, but in Indian culture, man is not different from God. After several births, we have become humans. Study the scriptures, earn money, and live in a dharmic way,” he added.
When I mentioned that by meeting him, I had fulfilled the advice of my guru Sri Sai Baba, Swamiji said, “Kanchi is static, Acharya is dynamic, always on the move in the propagation of Sanatana Dharma. There is an energy called spiritual energy, consisting of Ichha, Jnana, and Kriya shaktis. Sri Sathya Sai Baba represents all the three shaktis. You are at the right place. That is why he guided you to Kanchi. When you get time, when called by Amman, come to Kanchi.” The meeting with him was the springboard that elevated me to the realms of spirituality. To date, I have been maintaining a close connection with the mutt
“A person who translates dharma into action and indulges only in dharmic activities can reach the Godhead very quickly. People say that man is a social animal, but in Indian culture, man is not different from God. After several births, we have become humans. Study the scriptures, earn money, and live in a dharmic way,”as well as with the subsequent peetadhipatis: late Swami Jayendra Saraswathi and Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi swami, the present head of the 2600-year-old mutt.
Visit to Tiruvannamalai
As Bhagavan Sri Ramana attained samadhi on April 14 1950, just 44 days after my birth, I could not get his darshan. When I was 20, Sathya Sai Baba advised me to visit Tiruvannamalai and to spend as much time as possible in Sri Ramanasramam. However, the spiritual guidance fructified only after six years when I was assigned a World Bank Project at Tiruvannamalai. The 188-day continuous stay at the ashram strengthened my bond with Sri Ramana. Even after returning to Mumbai, for an unbroken 44- year period, every year, I visited the ashram. In February 2019, with the blessings of the masters, I completed my 110th Giripradakshinam (circumambulation of the holy Arunachala hill). The long association with the ashram helped me imbibe the core philosophy of Bhagavan, making my sadhana intense on the path laid by him. Thus, I wrote nine books in Telugu exclusively on the teachings of Bhagavan and delivered numerous talks at various spiritual forums. The primary teaching of Bhagavan, “Enquire who am I,” though it appears simple and straightforward, is difficult to practise. The path is indeed a mountain path, very steep, and earnest efforts are required to lead the seeker inwards. Instead of merely worshipping him, if one puts into practice the teachings, whenever life throws challenges, the teachings would offer practical help. Life would offer situations, both accidental and incidental, to realise the limitations of the manifest world and to open the doors of reality, the truth of being the Self alone.
God
God is nothing but a force and feeling within.
God is an invisible energy. In Vedantic parlance, the word ‘God’ is not used. It is ‘Brahman.’ All that exists is Brahman, and the cause of the world is also Brahman.
True spirituality
Love, compassion, charity, and accepting life as it comes—all these constitute spirituality. It is much more than rituals, it does not bear any attributes, and never entertains illusions and superstition. Metaphysical and spiritual states are so close that the gap is very fine. Spirituality is a universal thought, encompassing region and religion.
Spirituality and science
Every branch of knowledge, including spirituality, is a science. As spirituality is absolute reality, it should be conveyed with a rational outlook, enhancing the esteem of the subject. Spiritual science leads to absolute knowledge. Spirituality begins where science ends. They are not contradictory; rather, they are complimentary. Science, with its limitations, cannot fathom Creation, existence, and dissolution wholly. However, without science, the ability to question and the rational approach will not develop. Like any other subject—chemistry, physics, etc.— spirituality too has scientific undercurrents. For instance, the Ramayana can be narrated either with fervour and emotion to regale the audience or to bring out the intricacies of characters and situations with all the dynamics and dimensions, emphasising its applicability to life. In the latter way, it becomes a spiritual science.
Be here and now
After their sojourn on Planet Earth, millions of people have vacated their bodies, and so far, not even one has returned to explain the other world. The Vedas called it ‘Iham eva.’ Now and here! We may have vivid descriptions of such
worlds and quote the scriptures for academic discussions, but the fact remains that no one knows about them. The ‘now and here’ concept wakes us up to reality and exhorts us to use life to its full advantage.
Conflicts among followers of different gurus The problem arises if one is attached to the name and form of the guru. If one is influenced by the teachings and practices, one will not have any problem accepting the great ones with equal reverence. Adi Sankara left behind profound knowledge and wisdom. Ramana Maharshi prepared mankind to get connected instantly to the ultimate truth. Sathya Sai Baba carried on a great mission of ‘love all, serve all.’ Jillellamudi Amma gave importance to humanism. Sri Ramakrishna combined Bhakti and Jnana. Sri Aurobindo emphasised that ‘all life is yoga’ and Mata Amritanandamayi stresses the power of love and social service. The common thread among all Mahatmas is ‘Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti. Truth is one and it is told differently by the wise. In my deep study of their philosophies, I do not find any difference in the man-making process. There must be cohesion among all devotees of all faiths to come under one umbrella so that the world can take a leaf out of this and make the universe one home.
Religion and Spirituality
While religion binds us, spirituality liberates us. Religion is guided mostly by the vagaries of the mind, senses, theories, dogmas, etc. Spirituality, quickly and quietly, leads one to salvation, ‘here and now.’ Once the religious practitioner realises that he is in the shackles of religious rigorous practices, he turns his thoughts and attitude towards something higher. He, in due course, lands in the spiritual arena. That is all!
World is God as well as mithya
The world is God because the all-pervading Atma manifests as the world (Anatma). It appears to be real. Please note that the one that appears must disappear. In fact, it appears till it disappears. It is make-believe. That is why it is called mithya. That does not mean it is non
existent.
Message to the readers
Human birth is special and unique. Live life king-size! Draw bliss through body, mind, and soul at varying levels, always. Accept life as it comes. Contradictions, paradoxes, and inconveniences are but part of life. Try to live in conjunction with them. Sanatana Dharma is a dharma to be followed by all. Dharma has no ism! Be humane. That is Divine!
Pradeep Krishnan is a student of consciousness, based in Kerala. A seeker by nature, he is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
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