Talk:The Nāyaṉmār Saints:Yogi Vemana
By Vishal Agarwal
Vemanna Reddy was the youngest son of a local chief in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. He became a student of Lambika Shiva Yogi, a great Yogi and worshipper of Bhagavān Shiva. However, in his younger years, he fell into several bad habits and addictions. He wasted his time, seemed to have no purpose in life, and was in love with a dancer with whom he spent many of his days and nights. He was also rude towards others, due to which the people of his village stayed away from him. His family members greatly despised him for his wayward behaviour, except for his elder brother’s wife.
Vemanna’s sister-in-law constantly tried to bring him back to a life of hard work and useful purpose. One day, she suggested, “We have a goldsmith shop where several workers fashion ornaments for our customers. Why don’t you oversee the shop and make sure that everyone is doing their work honestly and punctually?” Vemanna agreed.
Although careless about his own punctuality, he proved to be a tough boss. He noticed that Abhirāma, the supervisor of the goldsmiths, always came late in the morning. When Vemanna asked him to come earlier, Abhirāma replied that he stayed late to make up his hours but could not arrive earlier. Knowing Abhirāma to be an honest and hardworking man, Vemanna decided to spy on him the next morning.
Before sunrise, Vemanna followed Abhirāma to a river for his bath and worship, and then to a cave in the jungle. Inside, he overheard a Sadhu—Lambika Shiva Yogi—telling Abhirāma, “I am pleased with your devotion all these years. Tomorrow, I will pass on my secret knowledge to you, and then I will pass away. You will gain many spiritual powers.”
Vemanna schemed to take this knowledge for himself. He asked his sister-in-law to give Abhirāma work that would keep him busy all night. She agreed, and Abhirāma worked through the night on a pair of gold earrings for her. Though he regretted missing his Guru’s appointment, he accepted it as fate and fulfilled his duty.
Meanwhile, Vemanna bathed, worshipped, and went to the cave in Abhirāma’s place. He told the Guru, “Abhirāma could not come today. He sent me instead to receive your knowledge.” The Guru sighed, “Perhaps this is how it was meant to be. Listen carefully, but then you must teach Abhirāma and accept him as your Guru, and finally request him to teach you again. Until then, the knowledge will be of no use to you.” He then taught Vemanna the secret wisdom and passed away.
With guilt, Vemanna confessed to Abhirāma, who forgave him instantly. They followed the Guru’s instructions, and Abhirāma taught Vemanna the knowledge again.
A great transformation took place in Vemanna. He gave up his rudeness, addictions, and worldly attachments, becoming saintly and wise. He roamed the Telugu-speaking regions composing beautiful four-lined verses on moral and spiritual values. In some verses, he declared that he regarded three people as his Gurus Abhirāma, his sister-in-law, and Lambika Shiva Yogi.