‘’Kanchi mut or circus troop?’’

Once a student asked Maha Swamigal,

''Guru Dev! Why you have an elephant, bulls, camels, horses in this mut? I have seen only in a circus troop''

Maha Swamigal laughed and answered,

'' Dear child! It is easy for me as a Guru to tame and train these animals than human beings. Human mind is taking forms of various animals at each moment which is very difficult to tame.

Each of these animals has made prayers with awareness in previous birth to serve a Guru. They are appreciated for their hard work. Elephant can carry me to any distance without shrinking the face with frustration.

Camels, bulls and horses can carry lot of heavy things during our journey and also pull our carts and they never blame anyone like us.

Like them man must be able to bear any thing in life through spiritual inner strength''

The animals can be the saints or staunch devotees who have taken the animal forms to serve their Guru from previous birth.