By this time, Yogi Ramsuratkumar was in his early eighties, and his age had begun to manifest visibly in his physical frame. He now required support to walk, and it appeared that he was suffering from some unknown ailment. By the middle of 1999, the devotees could clearly observe Yogi’s physical sufferings.

Yet, in spite of intense bodily pain, Yogi continued to meet devotees, patiently listened to their problems, and blessed them with boundless compassion. His love for his Father shone unmistakably, and his passion to remove sorrow from the hearts of devotees was itself a great benediction to behold.

Around the middle of 1999, devotees noticed blood stains on Yogi’s dhoti, which caused deep concern. On one such day, a doctor devotee came to the ashram for darshan. Disturbed by Yogi’s condition, the doctor examined him and suspected cancer in Yogi’s private parts. A biopsy was arranged, and within a few days, the report confirmed cancer.

The doctor advised immediate surgery. Another doctor devotee independently reviewed the medical reports and confirmed the diagnosis, also recommending surgery. All this occurred in mid-1999.

However, the devotees whom Yogi loved the most were kept completely in the dark. The people surrounding Yogi did not disclose the illness to anyone. Devotees came to know of the disease only around the middle of 2000, nearly a year later. Whenever devotees enquired about Yogi’s health, the administration gave evasive and irresponsible answers.

Only after the disease had visibly worsened and on strong medical advice did the management finally reveal the truth to Yogi’s close devotees. The revelation left the devotees shocked, bewildered, and heartbroken.

The second doctor devotee earnestly prayed to Yogi to undergo proper medical treatment. He also suggested that a local Government Hospital physician near Tiruvannamalai attend on Yogi. The local doctor, a physician and not a surgeon, was called, and Yogi accepted his service.

This doctor attended Yogi daily for several months, but could do very little. Watching Yogi suffer in acute pain was a heart-rending sight.

Within a few months, Yogi lost the ability to walk altogether and had to be carried wherever he went. The people around Yogi did not allow other devotees to come near him. The managing trustee of both Trusts showed greater reverence towards that lady than towards Yogi himself and had even written a song glorifying that lady.

After some time, Yogi refused to take medicines altogether, saying that his Father alone knew how to cure him. Meanwhile, the cancer continued to spread relentlessly.

Yogi’s blood sugar levels rose alarmingly. His heart became enlarged. Blood urea and creatinine levels shot up, and pulmonary congestion developed. The urinary passage became completely blocked by the disease.

Each time Yogi attempted to pass urine, he would cry out in excruciating pain. The bladder remained distended, causing constant agony. Day and night, Yogi suffered unceasing pain.

And yet, even amidst unbearable physical torment, Yogi continued to bless devotees. Strikingly, devotees still felt his radiation of pure peace and bliss. His body screamed in pain, but his true Being—his Father Himself—silently radiated wisdom, compassion, and infinite bliss.

Yogi never complained, never sought sympathy. He endured all suffering in silence, accepting the disease as part of the divine will.

Despite the ravages of cancer, Yogi’s inner state remained utterly one with his Supreme Father. During one conversation with a devotee, Yogi spoke words that revealed his state of total realization:

“I can only say this: whatever exists is one Life. Unity—nothing is separate, nothing is isolated. This beggar is related to the Sun, to the Moon, to the infinite cosmos. This beggar is not limited to this body. All those present here are not separate, not isolated. They are part of myself.

You see this champak tree, you see this amla tree— they are all part of my life. They are not separate.

I am the Total. I am the Whole—Absolute, Indivisible, Eternal, Limitless Life. Infinite Life.

We are all one together— united, in perfect unity with the Father.

That’s all. That’s all I can say.”

By this time, Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s physical condition had deteriorated alarmingly. He was almost constantly in excruciating pain.

The author had only heard that Yogi was suffering from some unknown illness and never imagined that it could be the fatal disease of cancer. Nevertheless, deeply concerned, the author rushed to Tiruvannamalai and reached the ashram.

Yogi somehow knew of the author’s arrival. Soon, someone came and informed the author that Yogi wished to see him. The author went inside the abode to have Yogi’s darshan. What he saw shocked him profoundly.

He prostrated before Yogi and lifted his eyes. Yogi looked at him with immense love—subtle, silent, and deeply expressive.

One of the so-called elite group surrounding Yogi asked him whether he wished to speak to the author. Yogi replied quietly, “What to talk?”

The author sat silently before Yogi for several hours.

A lavish breakfast—sweets and a wide variety of dishes—was served before Yogi. That lady fed Yogi a little sweet and then a few other items. Yogi could eat only a very small quantity.

Yogi then asked another lady, who was serving food, whether the same food was being served to all devotees in the dining hall. She bluntly and without hesitation lied, saying that the same food was served to everyone.

Within a few hours, the group around Yogi took him for sightseeing to Sathanur Dam, against his clear unwillingness. It was a scorching summer day. Yogi was taken in the ashram car. The dam was 37 kilometres away from Tiruvannamalai.

The journey was torturous. Yogi groaned continuously in unbearable pain. His frail physical frame could not withstand the stress of the bumpy road.

On the return journey, Yogi chose to travel in the author’s car. Only then did the author fully comprehend the severity of Yogi’s suffering.

After returning to the ashram, the author enquired with the managing trustee about Yogi’s illness. He was told plainly that it was cancer—the killing disease. He also learned that Yogi had refused medical treatment.

The author was baffled, distressed, and deeply angry with the people surrounding Yogi. Yet, he was helpless.

The author immediately conveyed the situation via email to Anuradha, who was then in the United States with her son Dr. Sankar. Dr. Sankar was an experienced oncologist, deeply spiritual from a young age, and a devoted follower of Yogi.

The author requested Anuradha to send her son to India immediately to treat Yogi.

Without delay, Dr. Sankar flew to India on the earliest available flight and came directly to Tiruvannamalai. V. Ganesan, the great-grandson of Ramana Maharshi’s brother, accompanied Dr. Sankar to Yogi’s abode in the ashram.

Yogi greeted Dr. Sankar warmly and enquired about his mother. Then Yogi said gently, “You wanted to see this beggar. You have seen this beggar. Now you should go back to the US.”

Dr. Sankar replied that by Yogi’s grace he had become a doctor and pleaded that he be allowed to treat Yogi. Yogi remained silent.

Dr. Sankar stayed with the others around Yogi. On witnessing the condition of the disease, he was shocked by its severity.

A local doctor was assigned to clean and dress Yogi’s wounds daily, but during Dr. Sankar’s visit, this doctor remained absent for several consecutive days due to personal reasons. Consequently, the wounds were not cleaned or dressed properly.

Even then, Dr. Sankar was not permitted to attend Yogi.

For two agonising days, Yogi suffered intensely as he could not pass urine due to complete blockage. Finally, that lady had no choice but to request Dr. Sankar to intervene.

While cleaning the wounds, Dr. Sankar forcibly removed a large obstructing block. Yogi cried out loudly in pain. Those present instructed Dr. Sankar to be gentle, saying that Yogi’s body was extremely delicate.

Dr. Sankar completed the dressing. Within minutes, Yogi was able to pass urine. The relief was immediate and profound. Soon after, Yogi fell into deep sleep—something he had not experienced for a long time.

Yet, the people around Yogi convinced themselves that Yogi was healing his own body through mystical powers and that everything would soon become normal.

Dr. Sankar consulted over phone with Dr. Rangabashyam, a senior and highly respected surgeon in Chennai, a devotee of Ramana Maharshi and a great admirer of Yogi. Both doctors independently reached the same conclusion:

Only radical surgery—removal of the cancer-affected parts—could save Yogi.

But Yogi did not wish to be operated upon. He wanted to withdraw from the body. Yogi had earlier said that once the construction work of the ashram was completed, his Father would recall him.

Dr. Sankar pleaded with Yogi repeatedly to agree to surgery. Yogi gave no response.

After a few days, Yogi called Dr. Sankar and told him once again: “You came to see this beggar. You have seen this beggar. Now go back to the US.”

Dr. Sankar felt utterly helpless. With Yogi refusing surgery and no alternative treatment possible, there was nothing more he could do. With a heavy and broken heart, Dr. Sankar returned to the United States.

Dr. Rangabashyam personally visited Yogi Ramsuratkumar and examined him in detail. After the examination, he clearly explained the gravity of the disease to those around Yogi. He warned them unequivocally that if the condition continued without intervention, everything would come to an end within a very short time.

This warning shook the people around Yogi. Until then, they had been living in the belief that Yogi would cure himself. For the first time, they understood the firmness of Yogi’s resolve to withdraw once and for all.

They desperately tried to persuade Yogi to accept treatment and undergo surgery at Dr. Rangabashyam’s hospital in Chennai. But Yogi vehemently refused—not only surgery, but any form of medical treatment.

The people around him were terrified and confused.

In desperation, they called Krishnapremi Maharaj to persuade Yogi. Sri Krishnapremi Maharaj came to the Sudama house to see Yogi. That lady informed Yogi of his arrival.

Sri Krishnapremi Maharaj entered, sat beside Yogi, spoke to him gently, and earnestly prayed that Yogi accept treatment. He told Yogi that his body belonged to the devotees, and that for their sake, Yogi should agree to medical care.

Yogi gave no verbal response. Instead, he blessed Sri Krishnapremi Maharaj by touching his cheek and chest. After some time, Sri Krishnapremi Maharaj left.

Still unwilling to accept Yogi’s decision, the administration sent Swaminathan and another devotee by car to Puttaparthi to seek help from Sathya Sai Baba.

They were unable to obtain an audience. They sent a fax explaining Yogi’s illness and seeking blessings for his recovery. Even after sending the fax, they could not meet Sri Sai Baba. They waited for another day, but received no response and finally returned to Tiruvannamalai.

The administration also informed Swami Satchidananda about Yogi’s condition. Swami Satchidananda responded immediately, sending Swami Muktananda and Sriram, the grandson of Swami Ramdas, along with homeopathic medicines.

Swami Muktananda and Sriram visited Yogi, offered the medicines, and conveyed Swami Satchidananda’s concern. Yogi saluted them respectfully. They stayed for a day and returned to Anandashram.

Yogi took the medicines for a day or two, only to satisfy the devotees, and then stopped completely.

When Dr. Rangabashyam visited Yogi, he had already explained in detail how the disease would spread and what symptoms would mark the final stage. Exactly as the experienced doctor had predicted, Yogi’s condition deteriorated rapidly.

By July 2000, the situation became alarming. Panic set in among those around Yogi. One night, close to midnight, they took Yogi by car from the house to the ashram.

At that time, the author was staying in a room near the ashram. He informed Sri Janardhanan of Yogi’s worsening condition. Sri Janardhanan immediately came to Tiruvannamalai. Even he was not permitted to see Yogi.

During those days, Sri Anjaneyalu was staying with Yogi at night to serve him. Early in the morning, he would leave to attend to his work.

The author and Sri Janardhanan went to the Sudhama house, where the watchman informed them that Yogi had been taken to the ashram at midnight. They rushed to the ashram to learn more from Sri Anjaneyalu.

It was around 3 a.m. when they reached the ashram gate. They saw the trustee pacing restlessly near the abode, visibly anxious. Sensing that something had gone terribly wrong, they asked the watchman to open the gate and entered the premises.

On seeing them, the trustee suddenly ran away into his cottage and did not come out again until the two devotees had left. Why he fled from the devotees remains a mystery.

Sri Anjaneyalu finally came out and narrated what had happened during the night. The account deeply disturbed both the author and Sri Janardhanan. Yet, they were utterly helpless.

They returned to their respective places, heavy with fear, grief, and unanswered questions.

The disease caused acute, unrelenting pain, and Yogi’s physical frame was almost constantly groaning. Those around him prayed earnestly that Yogi would permit them to take him to Ramana Clinic in Madras, where Dr. Rangabashyam could operate.

By then, Yogi’s blood sugar level had risen alarmingly—above 400. There was congestion in the lungs, mild enlargement of the heart, and marked elevation of blood urea and creatinine. Yogi was not responding and appeared to be in a coma-like state.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the people around Yogi finally decided to take him to Madras. A handicapped devotee immediately offered his personal van, especially deisgned for his own use, for the journey and instructed his driver to be ready.

On 17 August 2000, at around 5 a.m., Yogi was taken by van to Madras and admitted to Ramana Clinic around 11 a.m. His condition was extremely critical, and he appeared to be in coma.

At the time of admission, Dr. Rangabashyam was out of station, attending a medical conference. His junior doctors contacted him by phone. Dr. Rangabashyam gave detailed instructions regarding the course of treatment and asked them to keep him informed regularly. The junior doctors administered medicines strictly according to his directions.

Dr. Rangabashyam returned later that same night, examined Yogi, and explained that the blood sugar and blood urea levels had to be stabilised before any major surgery for cancer could even be considered. He also stated that a minor surgical procedure was immediately necessary to create a drainage pathway for urine.

On 18 August 2000, Dr. Rangabashyam performed the minor surgery, which brought considerable relief to Yogi. For this procedure, Dr. Rangabashyam specifically invited Dr. Kumaresan and Dr. Punitha, a devoted doctor couple, to assist him.

Dr. Kumaresan, the great-grandson of Sri Subbaiah Nadar, and his wife Dr. Punitha, both government doctors residing in Madras and ardent devotees of Yogi, volunteered their services wholeheartedly. Dr. Rangabashyam gladly accepted their help and shared his medical assessments and concerns with them. Several other specialist doctors in Madras, who were also devotees of Yogi, likewise offered their assistance.

Dr. Kumaresan and Dr. Punitha volunteered to stay overnight in the hospital, personally attending to Yogi during the night shifts.

One night, while caring for Yogi after the surgery, Dr. Kumaresan broke down in tears and prayed softly:

“Swami, do not make us orphan. Please get well soon, Swami.”

At that very moment, Yogi opened his eyes. He gently patted Dr. Kumaresan’s cheek, smiled with tender compassion, and blessed him. The moment left an indelible impression on all who later heard of it.

However, the people around Yogi did not welcome the close proximity of Dr. Kumaresan and Dr. Punitha. They complained to Dr. Rangabashyam and requested him not to encourage their continued presence.

Dr. Rangabashyam firmly disagreed. He told them that the doctors were genuinely assisting in Yogi’s treatment and that it was safer for Yogi to be attended by trained medical professionals rather than untrained devotees. He saw no reason whatsoever to send them away.

Nevertheless, due to persistent objections and pressure, Dr. Kumaresan and Dr. Punitha were eventually prevented from continuing their service to Yogi.

Meanwhile, one devotee offered her car and driver to remain at the exclusive disposal of the managing trustee, day and night, for Yogi’s service. Several devotees also contributed substantial sums of money towards Yogi’s medical treatment.

Yet, during the first two days after Yogi’s hospital admission, the managing trustee did not find time to visit Yogi at all, as he was attending a marriage function at his brother’s house.

In the meantime, a young devotee named Parthiban, a transport operator from Aruppukottai, who had prior experience in caring for elderly and sick persons, was called to attend on Yogi. Already present in the hospital was another young and confidential devotee, Saktivel, a higher secondary school teacher from Madras, who was rendering all kinds of personal service to Yogi.

These two youths took care of Yogi with total dedication. They regularly washed Yogi’s clothes, attended to his physical needs, and remained constantly available. Their sincere, selfless, and silent service attracted the appreciation of everyone present in the hospital.

Yogi had great regard and affection for the senior doctor, Dr. Rangabashyam. The doctor’s wife, Smt. Chitra, took personal responsibility for preparing and arranging food not only for Yogi, but also for the people staying around him. She was a noble and compassionate soul, attending to everyone’s needs without hesitation. She instructed her household staff to serve all those around Yogi with respect and reverence.

Dr. Rangabashyam allotted an entire floor of the hospital, consisting of several rooms, exclusively for Yogi and those attending him. The doctor’s residence was situated just behind the hospital.

Both Dr. Rangabashyam and Smt. Chitra had deep love and reverence for Yogi. On a few occasions, after the major surgery, Yogi even visited their home during his hospital stay.

Gradually, Yogi’s blood sugar levels were brought under control, and Dr. Rangabashyam carefully stabilised all other critical health parameters. It took twenty-five days of sustained medical effort to bring Yogi’s physical condition to a stage where it could withstand a major surgical procedure.

On 11 September 2000, Dr. Rangabashyam conducted the major surgery. The operation was successful, and the entire portion affected by cancer was removed. That date later became unforgettable in a tragic way for humanity: exactly one year later, on the same date and at the same time, the World Trade Center towers in New York and other major targets in the United States were destroyed, burying thousands of innocent people beneath the rubble. Whether there exists any unseen connection between the removal of a Yogi’s diseased physical part and that immense human catastrophe remains a mystery known only to the Divine.

The date and time of the surgery were kept secret by the management. However, the author somehow came to know the exact details. He conveyed this information to various institutions functioning in Yogi’s name and to devoted followers. Throughout that day, devotees remembered Yogi’s name continuously, praying that he would come out of the disease successfully. The prayers were answered.

After the surgery, Yogi recovered considerably, though he was never able to walk again. The best physiotherapist was brought in, and regular massages were given to strengthen his legs, but full mobility never returned until the end of his life.

Following the surgery, devotees thronged the hospital to have Yogi’s darshan. The managing trustee arranged volunteers to register the names of devotees and fixed specific dates and time slots, allowing small batches to see Yogi each day. Accordingly, devotees were permitted to have darshan daily, both in the morning and evening. Devotees from distant places also arrived and were blessed with Yogi’s darshan during this period.

The people around Yogi were compelled to stay in the hospital with him for an extended period. Being confined indoors for months together, they felt suffocated and longed to breathe the outside air. They wished to visit places in and around Madras, taking Yogi along with them.

On one such occasion, that lady repeatedly pressed Yogi to visit a spiritual place in Madras. In response, Yogi uttered a proverb in Hindi:

“Gar ka jogi jogra, bahar ka jogi sidh.”

The van driver, Sri Mahendra Yadav, who was from Uttar Pradesh and well-versed in Hindi, burst into laughter on hearing the proverb. Observing his reaction, the lady sensed that Yogi had made a mischievous remark. She immediately asked Yogi to explain the meaning of the proverb. Yogi did not respond.

The meaning of the proverb is clear: “The Yogi within one’s own house is treated like a clown, while the Yogi outside is revered as a perfected being.”

Day by day, the health of Yogi’s physical frame showed signs of improvement, and he slowly regained strength. However, he was still unable to stand or walk on his own and had to be carried in a chair.

Yogi expressed his desire to return to Tiruvannamalai Ashram, but the doctor insisted that he remain in the hospital for a few more days to take preventive measures against the recurrence of cancer.

The doctor also wanted Yogi to regain enough strength to walk independently and therefore arranged physiotherapy sessions. Despite these efforts, Yogi never regained the ability to walk until the end of his life.

The prolonged hospital stay began to bore the people around Yogi. They repeatedly requested him to go out somewhere. Yogi remained reluctant and calmly told them to obtain the doctor’s permission if they wished to take him out.

The doctor was initially hesitant but later suggested that they take Yogi to his farmhouse by the seashore. After informing Yogi that medical permission had been obtained, Yogi finally agreed.

They took Yogi in the van to the farmhouse. The doctor had made all arrangements for accommodation and food for the entire group and had also deputed his best staff nurse to attend on Yogi in case of emergency. The group stayed there for few days. While the farmhouse greatly impressed the people around Yogi, after a few day’s stay they returned to the hospital.

As time passed, Yogi’s condition improved further, and he increasingly insisted on returning to Tiruvannamalai. Eventually, the doctor granted clearance for discharge. On 23 November 2000, Yogi was discharged from the hospital and returned to the Ashram at Tiruvannamalai on the same day.

During Yogi’s prolonged and serious illness, the administration did not inform Yogi’s family at Ranchi about his condition. It was Dr. Kumaresan, who had personal contact with Yogi’s family, who informed them of the gravity of the situation.

Yogi’s youngest daughter, Smt. Beena, travelled from Hazaribagh to see her father. However, she was not permitted to stay with him. It appears that while Yogi allowed her to see him, he did not allow her to remain by his side. When she insisted on staying, Yogi became annoyed. Within a few days, Smt. Beena had no choice but to return to Hazaribagh.

In the meantime, the management decided to purchase a new van exclusively for Yogi’s use. This was done despite the fact that a devoted follower from Bombay, Sri Asish Bagrodia, had already offered his personal van for Yogi’s service.

Sri Asish Bagrodia, who was alternately enabled, had specially designed his own van for personal use. When Yogi had to be taken to the hospital, this devotee instantly handed over his van along with the driver, without hesitation.

That van remained at Yogi’s disposal for several months and was returned to its owner only after Yogi’s Mahasamadhi. During this entire period, the devotee managed without his vehicle, enduring considerable inconvenience with humility and devotion.

The driver, Sri Mahendra Yadav, rendered remarkable selfless service to Yogi for months together, staying away from his family in Bombay and dedicating himself entirely to Yogi’s service.