SreeNarayanaGuru

[gopu]

Nanu was initiated into reading and writing byCempalanti Pillai. He studied tillthe age of ten in a one-teacherschool. Afterwards, he wasasked to tend the family’s cattle.While his cows were grazing hesat under some shady tree andcomposed hymns in praise ofGod.

Nanu was no longer a child.He did not want to go throughthe traditional routine of studyingone book after another andgetting gradual promotions. Histeacher allowed him to study as many books ashe could !In four years, he completed his Sanskritliterature and Vedanta studies underKummampalli Raman Pillai Asan.

His peer group was of late teenagers andyouth. Most of them were boisterous. Nanu wasgiven a separate cottage to live in. He used hisspare time to meditate and practise the disciplineof Yoga.
He was especially drawn to the great Indianepics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Hemastered these books. Whenever there was aheated discussion among his peers, he wasasked to mediate and adjudicate.During those days, he had the first spiritualexperience which was the stepping stone tohis enlightenment