Special work timings and special salary
When Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiyar offered Vipulananda Maharaj the Tamil Chair in the Annamalai University, Maharaj said that he would accept it on two conditions: (1) he would not conform to the timings, and (2) he wanted a one-rupee higher salary than that received by the Vice Chancellor. The Rajah though puzzled at first, readily agreed, but many people who heard about it criticised in private Maharaj’s conditions. But they were dumbfounded when they saw Maharaj coming to the campus early in the morning, cleaning the facility, watering the plants and making arrangements for classes. He left the campus only after dusk. It was only after a time that people realised the greatness of Vipulanandaji—the fact that he wanted to work longer and hence he would not adhere to the timings.
At that time, when Vipulananda Maharaj came to Mylapore Math in a car, a brahmachari who was present there ignored him and did not make pranams as per tradition. Maharaj noticed this strange behaviour, and after a while, he called the brahmachari and asked, “Are you annoyed with me?” The brahmachari vented his displeasure, “Are you a householder? Do you have any children to look after? If that is not the case, why do you earn money for your living? Why did then you become a sannyasi? I heard that you asked for a salary higher than that of the Vice Chancellor.” Hearing this, Maharaj gently remarked, “I have a big family—not one, but thousands, nay, even millions. I have several hundreds of children throughout Sri Lanka who depend on me. I need to educate them and improve their economic condition. Therefore, all these things are necessary.” Hearing this, the brahmachari felt ashamed, fell at Maharaj’s feet and begged his pardon. Maharaj too forgave him.
— Swami Nilamadhavananda
Offering Biriyani
Swami Vipulanandaji took great care of children and students. Once, he found a few students belonging to Muslim faith standing outside his room. When enquired, one of the boys said, “We have to observe our Islamic festival, but we don’t have biriyani to eat!” Maharaj lovingly assured them, “Oh, don’t worry about that. I will make arrangements for it.” He then hired a Muslim cook, and the food was prepared. Abdul Majid, who was one of those students, later became the Education Minister of Sri Lanka, and he introduced Vipulanandaji’s writings in Sri Lankan education system.
— Swami Nilamadhavananda
Service in slum
During his stay at Annamalai University in Chidambaram, Swami Vipulanandaji would visit a nearby slum to teach the children living there. He would carry puffed rice, biscuits, chocolates, nuts and other foodstuff for the children. Some boys from the locality where Maharaj lived in the town, would accompany him on these trips. But the parents of these boys did not want them to mix with the slum children. Once, a mother angry with her son for following Maharaj into the slum, poured a bucketful of cowdung on her son! Maharaj’s neighbours in the town also severed his water connection with the intention of forcing him to leave the place. But Maharaj remained unfazed, and drank the saltwater from a nearby pond.
The people, who opposed him, slowly realised his simplicity and greatness and repented for offending a sannyasi. One of the boys who accompanied Maharaj to the slum, would carry a lantern and escort Maharaj while returning home at night. In later years, this boy, with Maharaj’s blessings came to be recognised as a saint and a Tamil scholar ‘Kundrakkudi Adigalar’.
— Swami Nilamadhavananda
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