Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Once the old couple entrusted it to somebody when they
went to Madras and did not return for 15 days. At first, during
the first four or five days, it used to search in the halls go
round the hall, and then go about all the places which they
used to frequent. Having got tired, perhaps disgusted, with
those fruitless efforts, one morning at about 10 o’clock it came
to Bhagavan’s sofa and stood there, staring fixedly at Bhagavan.

At that time I was sitting in the front row. Bhagavan was
reading the paper. Krishnaswami and others tried to send the
dog out by threats, but in vain. I too asked it to go out. No, it
wouldn’t move. Bhagavan’s attention was diverted by this
hubbub and he looked that way. Bhagavan observed for a
while the look of the dog and our excitement. He then put
the paper aside and, as if he had by his silence understood
the language of the dog, waved his hand towards it and said,
“Why, what is the matter? You are asking where your people
have gone? Oh, I see, I understand. They have gone to
Madras. They will be back in a week. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be
worried. Be calm. Is it all right? Now, go.”
Hardly had Bhagavan completed his instructions, when
the dog turned and left the place. Soon after that Bhagavan
remarked to me, “Do you see that? The dog is asking me
where its people have gone and when they are returning.

However much the people here tried to send it away it
wouldn’t move until I answered its questions.”
Once, it seems, the lady of the house punished the dog
with a cane for something it had done and locked it up in a
room for half a day. After it was let out, it came straight to
Bhagavan as if to complain against her and stayed at the
Ashram without going to their house for four or five days.

Bhagavan arranged to feed the dog and admonished the
lady thus: “What have you done to the dog? Why is it angry
with you? It came and complained to me. Why? What have
you done?” Finally she admitted her fault in Bhagavan’s
presence and, with a good deal of cajoling, got the dog to go
home.