Yogi wanted the construction work to begin on the very same day the new trustees were appointed, and according to the new architectural plan. He immediately instructed Smt. Prabha’s husband, Sundararaman, an engineer, and the newly appointed trustee Mani, to make arrangements for the Bhoomi Puja.

Sundararaman and Mani acted swiftly. The site for commencement was marked, the preliminary preparations were completed, and within minutes of Janardhanan’s resignation from the Trust, all arrangements for the Bhoomi Puja were in place. They informed Yogi that everything was ready.

Yogi proceeded to the marked spot and dug the soil with his own hands, symbolically initiating the construction. He then asked that lady to do the same, followed by Justice T. S. Arunachalam, and thereafter the friends, including Janardhanan himself.

As soon as the puja concluded, Janardhanan wished to leave. Yogi relieved him without resistance.

Janardhanan, along with his friends and Anjaneyalu, went to Ramanashram. There, Janardhanan broke down completely. His eighteen years of association with his Guru, filled with love, trust, sacrifice, and shared struggle, flooded his mind. He could no longer restrain himself. Tears streamed down uncontrollably. The friends stood helpless; no words could console him.

They returned to Sivakasi Nadar Chatram. Janardhanan still had to formally hand over the accounts to the new trustees. He and Raghunath, the auditor, worked continuously, preparing every detail with care and accuracy.

That evening, Dr. Ramanathan, the newly appointed trustee and younger brother of Justice Arunachalam, came to the Chatram. He conveyed that Yogi had sent him to collect ₹50,000 in cash for immediate expenses. Raghunath advised against giving cash and suggested issuing a cheque instead. Accordingly, Janardhanan issued a cheque for ₹1,00,000 in Dr. Ramanathan’s name.

Dr. Ramanathan encashed the cheque, handed the amount to Yogi, and Yogi in turn passed the money to the new trustees for construction-related expenses.

The following day, Yogi sent word requesting Anjaneyalu to come and see him at the Ashram. Anjaneyalu, however, hesitated and did not go. His guilty consiciousness and an unknown fear dragged Anjaneyaly back. Yogi waited, but Anjaneyalu did not appear.

Finally, Yogi sent Sadhu Rangarajan to Sivakasi Nadar Chatram with a message: Yogi wished to see both Janardhanan and Anjaneyalu.

Before leaving, Janardhanan handed over the remaining accounts and documents to Rangarajan. He then told Rangarajan that he would go to Ramanashram and bring Anjaneyalu to Yogi.

All the friends went to Ramanashram. Anjaneyalu was not there initially. They waited. After about half an hour, he arrived. He admitted that although he wanted to see Yogi, a deep fear was holding him back. Janardhanan felt the same fear.

Earlier, after Janardhanan and Anjaneyalu had expressed their decision to withdraw from Ashram work, Yogi had instructed them not to prostrate before him anymore.

This instruction had lodged itself deeply in their minds, creating an unspoken barrier. Confusion prevailed. Time passed heavily.

Throughout this, Parthasarathy kept insisting that after resigning, they were once again ordinary devotees, and that there was no reason to fear or hesitate. “If Yogi wants to see us, we should go as before,” he argued.

The others, however, confessed that they lacked the courage. They told Parthasarathy that if anyone could go, it should be him.

Raghunath suggested that Parthasarathy go as their representative. Parthasarathy asked what message he should convey. They requested him to tell Yogi that they were emotionally shattered and unable to come at that moment, and that they planned to go to Pondicherry for a brief change.

Around 2:00 PM, Parthasarathy drove to that lady’s house. As he parked the car, the sound of the engine reached inside. Yogi Ramsuratkumar himself came to the gate and opened it.

Yogi greeted Parthasarathy warmly and took him inside. Yogi sat in his usual place and asked Parthasarathy to sit before him. That lady sat beside Yogi.

Yogi said that he had waited at the Ashram until 1:30 PM, hoping the friends would come, and that he was disappointed they did not. Parthasarathy explained that the friends were emotionally upset and hence unable to come.

Yogi seemed momentarily unable to grasp the explanation. At this point, that lady interjected loudly, saying, “Those people are not willing to see you, Bhagavan…”

Parthasarathy immediately reacted. Turning sharply toward that lady, he said, “Don’t translate emotions into wrong words. Mind your words.”

He then looked at Yogi intensely.

For a few moments, Yogi looked back and forth between that lady and Parthasarathy, silently observing. Then, setting aside the interruption, Yogi chose to speak directly to Parthasarathy, resuming the conversation without mediation.

For a few days, Yogi Ramsuratkumar pretended that old age had weakened his eyesight and hearing. The people around him accepted this at face value.

They had forgotten that Yogi was always alert, and that when alertness dawned, all his senses functioned with extraordinary sharpness. Whenever something demanded his attention, Yogi could see and hear even from great distances. When he chose to ignore people or situations, he would slip into a divine samadhi-like stillness.

During such moments, the real devotees used the time to sing bhajans or silently remember Yogi’s name. It was a rare beauty to witness Yogi playing the role of an innocent, ignorant child before those who were outwardly pious yet inwardly egoistic.

As a true Yogi, he lived only for his Father, rooted in Him in all circumstances, untouched by the games of ego. Some of those outwardly pious people exploited Yogi’s silence and divine innocence for their own worldly benefit. They imitated his external mannerisms and gained reverence from simple devotees. Poor souls—they lost the Eternal and gained only the transient.

Parthasarathy then asked gently, “What happened to the plan prepared by Padmanabha Iyer, Swami, which you had approved earlier?”

Yogi’s face grew grave. He replied that he had never approved any plan other than the physician’s plan. Parthasarathy tried to recall the earlier events and began to narrate them, but Yogi stopped him. With palms joined, Yogi said softly, “My Father approved only the physician’s plan. If this beggar ever told you otherwise, excuse this beggar.”

At that moment, Parthasarathy understood clearly—Yogi was enacting a different leela.

Yogi then asked about the friends’ immediate plans. Parthasarathy replied that they intended to go to Pondicherry, not for any specific work, but simply for a change. Yogi laughed gently. He gave Parthasarathy a fruit as prasadam, blessed him, and relieved him.

Parthasarathy returned and narrated everything to the friends. They were confused, unsettled, and inwardly shaken. Still, they went to Pondicherry for a few days. From there, they slowly dispersed and returned to their respective places.

From that point onward, Janardhanan was restless. Nothing gave him peace. He felt a deep sense of guilt. Memories of Yogi’s compassion over eighteen long years flooded his heart.

Janardhanan remembered the promise he had made—to stand by Yogi until the completion of the ashram. In silence, he questioned himself again and again: Why could I not respond as Yogi expected of me?

Months later, he wrote a letter to Yogi, seeking forgiveness and expressing his willingness to serve again. Yogi received the letter—but did not return the ashram work to him.

Yogi loved Janardhanan deeply and understood his limitations. Yogi wanted his beloved devotee to work for his own salvation, not to be entangled in institutional responsibilities. Yogi wished him to remember God constantly and be free. But Janardhanan could not fully grasp this will and continued to grieve inwardly. Still, he never stopped remembering Yogi.

In Yogi’s final days, he called Janardhanan regularly and asked him to narrate the Ramayanam before large gatherings of devotees.

Janardhanan’s selfless contribution to the creation of the ashram remains inseparable from Yogi’s story. He can never be erased from Yogi’s life. On 17 February 2009, his wife Vijaya passed away. The same year, on 12 June 2009, Janardhanan himself was called back by the Supreme Father after suffering from cancer for a year.

The entire ashram episode was steeped in controversy. Yogi’s true intention regarding the ashram is best understood through his own words:

“Those who enter the ashram will naturally be in meditation. There is no need for a separate meditation hall.”

Yet, a meditation hall exists.

He also said: “Whoever touches the gate of the Sannathi Street house and remembers this beggar’s name will be filled with my Father’s Grace.”

Still, the Sannathi Street house, where Yogi lived and blessed devotees for nearly eighteen years, remained locked, neglected, and abandoned until March 2006. It was later converted into a museum-like space. In July 2010, its roof was demolished in the name of renovation. After reconstruction, it was reopened to devotees.

“This ashram is the spiritual centre for the whole cosmos, from where my Father radiates peace and bliss,”said Yogi Ramsuratkumar.

Yet, over time, the entire ashram—particularly the samadhi of Yogi—was transformed into a Saivite Hindu temple. A Sivalingam was installed directly upon the samadhi. A temple gopuram rose above it. Nandi, Vinayaka, and other symbols essential to a traditional Saivite temple were added.

Through the customary Hindu religious disciplines of South India, these changes effectively distanced the devotees from the samadhi of Yogi.

Where once devotees could approach the samadhi freely, now Yogi and his samadhi are beyond their reach. While Yogi lived in his physical body, the place remained purely spiritual.

Soon after Yogi’s mahasamadhi, the same place was converted into a religious worship centre. Hindu rituals began to be performed at the samadhi. Devotees were prevented from approaching the samadhi to offer flowers or worship in their own simple way. All these transformations were carried out in the name of Yogi, but clearly against the will of Yogi and his teachings.

Yogi had repeatedly said: “Remember this beggar’s name—Yogi Ramsuratkumar. That is enough. You need not do any other rituals. This name is not this beggar’s name; it is my Father’s name.”

Yet today, the religious rituals dominate the ashram’s activities. At times, even the administratora themselves conducts elaborate rituals at Yogi’s samadhi.

“For this beggar’s friends,”Yogi said, “This name alone is enough. If you remember it, you need not worry about your spiritual growth. My Father will take care of you and lead you safely to Him.”

Contrary to this, the present administration encourages multiple rituals, and even conducts yoga classes after Yogi’s physical disappearance—practices that stand in sharp contrast to Yogi’s direct, simple, and uncompromising teaching of constant remembrance and renunciation of the self.

The construction of the ashram was carried out with meticulous care. Yogi himself was present at the site every day, from morning till evening, with only a short break for lunch. He interacted with devotees even while his full attention remained on the construction work.

Trustee Mani worked tirelessly and played a major role in building the massive structure. Yogi supported Mani in all construction-related activities. However, in later years, Mani had to leave the ashram. In 1996, Yogi brought in Justice T.S. Arunachalam, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, as the Managing Trustee.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar Trust was established as a public charitable trust. In the 1993 Trust Deed, the beneficiaries were clearly stated as “the devotees of Yogi Ramsuratkumar.”

But the Managing Trustee, Justice T.S. Arunachalam changed the beneficiaries later. With the help of legar experts the trust document was altered and Justice T.S. Arunachalam was designated as the successor of “Yogi Ramsuratkumar.

An inevitable question arises here. Devotees were calling Yogi as “Bhagawan”. Can there be a successor to God or Bhagawan?

In 1993, an erratic but highly educated youth was introduced to Yogi through Sadhu Rangarajan. Though intelligent and capable, the youth was emotionally unstable, dogmatic, and dismissive of others’ feelings. His conduct was frequently offensive. Despite this, he was drawn intensely to Yogi and wished to remain constantly near him.

He was allowed to stay in the ashram. However, his behaviour soon became intolerable to the then trustee, and in 1994, the youth abruptly fled the ashram following disciplinary confrontation.

In 1998, he returned—physically exhausted and destitute. Moved by compassion, Yogi requested the administration to provide him food, clothing, and shelter. Within months, the youth gained the confidence of that lady, who was then attending to Yogi’s physical needs.

On 4 January 1999, a new Trust was created: Ma Devaki Veda Patasala Trust. Author & Life Trustee was Yogi Ramsuratkumar and the Managing Life Trustee was Devaki. The Registered Officeof the Trust was Sudama House.

The stated objective of the Trust was to establish a Veda Patasala for teaching and researching Vedas and Sastras, open to all, including women and non-Brahmins—an inclusive vision consistent with Yogi’s compassion.

Justice T.S. Arunachalam, and another Yogi’s devotee Sri Saktivel, signed as witnesses to this document.

Within another two months, Yogi Ramsuratkumar requested Anjaneyalu—who had once again returned to Yogi and regained his confidence—to complete the building intended for the Veda Patasala within the premises of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Trust.

An extent of 10,000 square feet of land had earlier been donated from Yogi Ramsuratkumar Trust to Ma Devaki Veda Patasala Trust. Anjaneyalu completed the construction within a short span of two months.

Subsequently, through a formal resolution, Yogi inducted Justice T.S. Arunachalam and his advocate friend Sri Viswanathan as Life Trustees of the newly formed Ma Devaki Veda Patasala Trust. At the same time, Devaki was relieved of her position as Managing Trustee, though she continued to remain a Life Trustee.

Yogi then instructed the ladies to legally hand over the house—where they were residing—to Yogi Ramsuratkumar Trust, by executing and registering the necessary documents. That House was the registered office of Ma Devaki Veda Patasala Trust.

Yogi also directed that the Sannathi Street house, which stood in the name of the original donor devotee Sri Rajamanicka Nadar, be transferred to Yogi Ramsuratkumar Trust. Sri Rajamanicka Nadar had passed away a few years earlier, and his children willingly and without hesitation gave written consent for the transfer of the property to the Trust.

In 1999, Yogi sent Justice T.S. Arunachalam to Anandashram for a week, instructing him to observe and learn how an ashram should be run. Justice Arunachalam stayed there for a week and, upon his return, visited Yogi and enthusiastically narrated his experiences.

He expressed that Yogi’s ashram should also function like Anandashram. (At Anandashram, no religious rituals are performed, no deities or temples exist, and no ritualistic pujas are conducted. For decades—even after the mahasamadhi of Swami Ramdas and Mataji Krishnabai—only Ram Nam chanting has continued uninterrupted.)

Yogi immediately responded, “If Justice wants, this ashram also becomes like Anandashram.”

Yet, after Yogi’s mahasamadhi, Justice T.S. Arunachalam erected a Sivalingam directly upon Yogi’s samadhi and introduced Hindu religious rituals, guided by religious heads of his choosing—in complete contradiction to both Yogi’s teachings and Justice Arunachalam’s own earlier statements.

After Yogi’s Mahasamadhi, the retired judge formed an advisory committee. With the assistance of a sthapati (traditional temple architect), a design was prepared for constructing the Brindavanam (samadhi shrine). It was conceived as an open mandapam with granite pillars, without walls or doors.

This design was placed before the advisory committee, and the approval of devotees was sought. The proposed plan was published in Saranagatham, the ashram’s journal, under the guidance of Mr. Arunachalam.

The same design was also distributed to journalists during a press conference held in Chennai. Approvals and signatures were obtained from members of the advisory committee.

However, the plan was later altered without being brought again to the attention of the advisory committee. Why it was changed, and who proposed the change, remains an unresolved mystery to this day. Without informing the advisory committee, a temple structure was built over Yogi’s samadhi. The earlier plan—though approved by the advisory committee—was abandoned without their knowledge.

Although the legal documents of the ashram had restricted religious rituals, the retired judge began introducing religious ceremonies within the ashram. Several legal questions were raised regarding this development, but he did not appear overly concerned. The ashram’s journal Saranagatham later explained that the temple had been constructed in accordance with Agama principles.

Yogi personally observed the construction of the massive hall every single day, watching every detail with intense attention. He blessed each brick, infusing the structure with spiritual vitality—a divinity that continues to vibrate even today.

Whenever the trustees expressed concerns about shortage of funds, Yogi would mysteriously arrange contributions from devotees. After Sri Janardhanan, no individual actively travelled for fund collection. Instead, devotees from all walks of life voluntarily contributed, drawn by devotion rather than solicitation.

Yogi began giving personal audiences within the ashram complex. Devotees seeking such audiences would inform the trustee, who would prepare a list and submit it to Yogi upon his arrival at the ashram.

Initially, Yogi met devotees in the presence of that lady, but later he chose to sit alone outside the main building. Seated on a chair, Yogi would ask devotees to sit on chairs arranged before him. He enquired about their well-being, listened patiently to their sorrows and difficulties, and finally blessed them, offering fruits as prasadam.

During these interactions, Ravi, Yogi’s driver, or Selvaraj, another assistant, would remain nearby to arrange chairs. When Yogi wished to conclude the meeting, the assistants would lift the fruit plate so Yogi could pick a fruit and hand it personally as Prasad to the devotee.

After Yogi moved to that lady’s house in 1993, a rigorous daily routine began:

3:00 A.M. – Coffee had to be ready. After this, that lady would read devotees’ letters aloud to Yogi or sing devotional songs. At times, Yogi asked her to read specific news from the newspaper repeatedly.

6:00 A.M. – Yogi permitted that lady to attend to her morning ablutions.

6:45 A.M. – The car arrived at the House to take the group to the ashram.

6:50 A.M. – Departure from the house; arrival at the ashram gate exactly at 7:00 A.M.

Devotees stood in line to salute Yogi, who would respond either with a salute or by raising his hand in blessing.

The car proceeded to a small hut behind the main hall, where the group disembarked. Inside the hut, Yogi was informed by that lady and the managing trustee about the arrival of any important visitors. Occasionally, Yogi invited such visitors for breakfast.

Breakfast was served by ashram assistants—first to Yogi, then to others—while the ladies continuously chanted Yogi’s name.

By 8:00 A.M., the breakfast session concluded, and Yogi returned to that lady’s house.

During the return journey, devotees once again stood in line inside the ashram complex, saluting Yogi as he blessed them from the car.

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon: Morning darshan at the ashram

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.: Evening darshan

6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.: Conversations with important visitors at that lady’s house

When no visitors were present, that lady was required to sing or chant Yogi’s name continuously. At times, Yogi asked her to repeatedly read newspaper items or letters addressed to him.

Throughout these years, that lady remained constantly near Yogi, resting barely three to four hours a day. This demanding schedule continued uninterrupted for seven long years, with that lady accompanying Yogi throughout.

Apart from that lady, no one else could have endured such a relentless and exacting routine, underscoring the extraordinary nature of the life lived during those seven years.