Post by Amritha Varshini on Jan 9, 2014 7:54:36 GMT 5.5
Divine Life History of Marudhanallur Sri Sadhguru Swamigal –
By Sri Krishna Premi Anna (Part - 4)
PRESERVATION OF NAMA SIDHANTHA GRANTHAS
From the day the king saw Sadguru Swamigal, extreme prema was developed by him towards Swamigal. He used to come to Marudanallur for seeing Swamigal often. Sadguru Swamigal used to move with him as a devotee only and would not receive any assistance from him. He used to live by unchavrithi alone. The works of Bodendra Swamigal and Sridhara Iyaval relating to Nama Sidhantha, except those lost due to negligence, were available in certain Bhagavatha’s houses. He preserved them by taking copies of them. He initiated many into the divine name and gave japasutra to them. Several thousands came for receiving initiation from Swamigal. Thus he gave new life to Bhagavatha Dharma.
ESTABLISHING BAJANA PADDATHI
In the way in which Sadguru Swamigal was doing namaprachara, there was an additional feature, other than those found in the ways adopted by Bodendral and Ayyaval. They both preached mainly chanting of a single name. As those who had not developed premabhakthi will not relish the taste of chanting Nama, Namajapam established by them gradually decreased. But Sadguru Swamigal in addition to Nama Keerthanam, preached the singing of songs describing the name, form and qualities of the Lord to the accompaniment of musical instruments like Veena, Mridhangam etc., This method attracted people’s mind easily. Hence, people from every village invited Sadguru Swamigal and did Bhajanothsavam. Those who heard of Swamigal’s Keerthana Padhathi themselves learnt those songs and did Bhajan according to the padhathi. Hence, sankeerthanam spread easily in every village.
SWAMIGAL’S GRAND APPEARANCE DURING UNCHAVRITHI
Atleast hundred bhagawathas used to be always with Swamigal. Their daily livelihood was done only by unchavrithi done by Swamigal. Palanquin, divine insignia, umbrella, fan, these royal paraphernalia were arranged to be with the Swamigal always by the King. Sadguru Swamigal always shined in the midst of great Bhagawathas. “Just as people in Ayodhya desired to see Rama coming seated on an elephant, with umbrella over his head, people would be waiting to see Swamigal coming for unchavrithi. Even crores of eyes would be insufficient to enjoy his splendour while coming for unchavrithi, He was possessed of all royal insignia. His qualities were divine. His gait was like that of a male elephant. He looked like an Emperor, who held Sovereignty over the whole Earth.
He wore thulasi mala in his neck, akshayapatram over his shoulders. His chest was broad. His soft body shone like melted gold. He was covering his head with a cloth marked by lord’s nama. He was of an amicable nature. His eyes resembled lotus. His face was adorned by gentle smile. Even ten thousand eyes were insufficient to behold his beauty. Hundreds of bagavathas surrounded Swamigal during unchavrithi. The white umbrella usually adorning kings only was held over him during unchavrithi. On both sides, bakthas used to stand and fan him. Two others were clearing the crowd holding golden staff in their hands.
He wore sandals adorned with precious stones. His gait stole the hearts of all. Those who were with Swamigal had no worries about their families. Those who saw him thought that he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Those who talked with him thought that he was a devotee of Sri Rama. Those who understood his heart knew that he was a great devotee of Sri Rama. Those who understood his heart know that he was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. Because, he had one outward appearance, a different speech, yet a different heart. His nature was unusual. That is, outwardly he displayed Shiva Bakthi, which had knowledge or dispassion as its main feature. Rama Bhakthi had dharma and love as its main feature and was more enjoyable. Krishna Bhakthi which had supreme prema transcending worldly limits as its nature is the essence of Bhakthi and should be kept as a secret.
PRESERVATION OF NAMA SIDHANTHA GRANTHAS
From the day the /king saw Sadguru Swamigal, extreme prema was developed by him towards Swamigal. He used to come to Marudanallur for seeing Swamigal often. Sadguru Swamigal used to move with him as a devotee only and would not receive any assistance from him. He used to live by unchavrithi alone. The works of Bodendra Swamigal and Sridhara Iyaval relating to Nama Sidhantha, except those lost due to negligence, were available in certain Bhagavatha’s houses. He preserved them by taking copies of them. He initiated many into the divine name and gave japasutra to them. Several thousands came for receiving initiation from Swamigal. Thus he gave new life to Bhagavatha Dharma.
ESTABLISHING BAJANA PADDATHI
In the way in which Sadguru Swamigal was doing namaprachara, there was an additional feature, other than those found in the ways adopted by Bodendral and Ayyaval. They both preached mainly chanting of a single name. As those who had not developed premabhakthi will not relish the taste of chanting Nama, Namajapam established by them gradually decreased. But Sadguru Swamigal in addition to Nama Keerthanam, preached the singing of songs describing the name, form and qualities of the Lord to the accompaniment of musical instruments like Veena, Mridhangam etc., This method attracted people’s mind easily. Hence, people from every village invited Sadguru Swamigal and did Bhajanothsavam. Those who heard of Swamigal’s Keerthana Padhathi themselves learnt those songs and did Bhajan according to the padhathi. Hence, sankeerthanam spread easily in every village.
SWAMIGAL’S GRAND APPEARANCE DURING UNCHAVRITHI
Atleast hundred bhagawathas used to be always with Swamigal. Their daily livelihood was done only by unchavrithi done by Swamigal. Palanquin, divine insignia, umbrella, fan, these royal paraphernalia were arranged to be with the Swamigal always by the King. SadguruSwamigal always shined in the midst of great Bhagawathas. “Just as people in Ayodhya desired to see Rama coming seated on an elephant, with umbrella over his head, people would be waiting to see Swamigal coming for unchavrithi. Even crores of eyes would be insufficient to enjoy his splendour while coming for unchavrithi, He was possessed of all royal insignia. His qualities were divine. His gait was like that of a mad elephant. He looked like an Emperor, who held Sovereignity over the whole Earth. He wore thulasi mala in his neck, akshayapatram over his shoulders. His chest was broad. His soft body shone like melted gold. He was covering his head with a cloth marked by lord’s nama. He was of an amicable nature. His eyes resembled lotus. His face was adorned by gentle smile. Even ten thousand eyes were insufficient to behold his beauty. Hundreds of bagavathas surrounded Swamigal during unchavrithi. The white umbrella usually adorning kings only was held over him during unchavrithi. On both sides, bakthas used to stand and fan him. Two others were clearing the crowd holding golden staff in thirhands, He wore sandals adorned with precious stones. His gait stole the hearts of all. Those who were with Swamigal had no worries about their families. Those who saw him thought that he was a great devotee of lord Siva. Those who talked with him thought that he was a devotee of Sri Rama. Those who understood his heart knew that he was a great devotee of Sri Rama. Those who understood his heart know that he was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. Because, he had one outward appearance, a different speech, yet a different heart. His nature was unusual. That is, outwardly he displayed Siva Bakthi, which had knowledge or dispassion as its main feature. Rama Bhakthi had dharma and love as its main feature and was more enjoyable. Krishna Bhakthi which had supreme prema transcending worldly limits as its nature is the essence of Bhakthi and should be kept as a secret.
SWAMIGAL’S WAY OF INSTRUCTION
Swamigal would first instruct the person coming to him in knowledge and dispassion. On becoming more familiar with him, Prema confined to Dharma will be taught and he would be made his servant (dasya bhava). Then he would preach gopi prema, which transcended the limits enjoined by the world and Vedas and would take him as an intimate girl friend. First an orphan Brahmin boy came to him as disciple. He hated the world, as his parents died at an early age. He surrendered to Swamigal seeking peace. Swamigal consoled him saying, “Child, this world is impermanent. Thousands born and die daily in this world. This world is a burning ghat. If one who is eternal, weeps over the dead, it is meaningful. Those who are bound to die one day, are literally corpses, though they are living. If they grieve over the dead, it is a wonder of wonders. Siva Swaroopam indicates that the world is not permanent. He dwells in the burning ghat, holds skull in the hand, wears garland of corpses. Hence meditating upon him, ascetics obtain knowledge and dispassion. You also similarly do Siva bhakthi”.
Hearing this, he was devoted to Siva for some time. Then he married and became a householder. His wife taught him what true prema was, as also dharma, on hearing which he got disgusted with knowledge and dispassion. He came to Swamigal and asked him what is the use of dry knowledge and dispassion without prema and dharma. For that, Swamigal replied, “your conclusion is correct. Knowledge and dispassion are suited only for ascetics. Since you are a householder, you worship Sri Rama. Sri Raghavan is the upholder of righteousness, all merciful and a follower of dharma”.
From that day he was devoted to Rama. He slowly began to taste the sweetness of bakthi rasa. In a few days, he did not like to be bound by duties and wanted to enjoy paripurna bakthi alone. Again he came to Swamigal and told him, “My duties are a hindrance to my devotion to God. Will God be pleased if I devote myself to him without minding my duties”. Swamigal replied, “When Bakthi rasa flows like a flood, it breaks away the banks of duty. Hence, Gopis worshipped Sri Krishna, transgressing all worldly ties. Hence, you do Radha Krishna bhajana. You imagine that you are a Gopi. You begin to feel that Radha and Krishna are most dear to you. You do service to the divine pair, having in view the happiness of Krishna alone, without any selfish consideration. This is a great secret. Those who have no capacity to enjoy the beauty in this world should discard worldly life and do Shiva Bhakti. They have as guide vedantha works. Those who show love within the limits of dharma and never transgress Sastrik injunctions, would do Rama Bakthi, treating himself as a servant of Rama. Their guide is Ramayana. Pure Rasikas, full of prema should devote themselves to Radha Krishna, the personification of prema rasa unmindful of knowledge, dispassion and righteousness. Their guide is Bhagavatham. Hence, you study Bhagavatham.
From that day he became an intimate friend of Swamigal who called him as Radha Krishnadass.
The way in which he understood Sadguru Swamigal is described by him as follows:-
“Sadguru Swamigal’s body had a golden hue. His forehead was adorned with vibhuthi. His tongue was tasting the sweetness of Rama Naama. His heart was the residence of Radha and Krishna. I take refuge in such a Gurunatha”.
Cure for Bhagavatha Apachaara is Bhagavatha SEVA
The renowned Swamigal once went to Tippirrajapuram village for unchavrithi. Then a Brahmin by name Bala Ganeshan who was conceited was lying down on a pial of a house, stretching his legs towards Swamigal, who was passing that house. One person told him, “Get up, Sadguru Swamigal is coming”. To that, the conceited man told him, “Stop Prattling, what is special about Swamigal?” and did not get up. Swamigal saw him and felt sad, that when so many bhagavathas were going along the street, this man showed no respect to them. That day itself, he was down with severe stomach ache. He could not cure himself, though he tried several remedies. He surrendered to Swamigal. Swamigal told him that if he had offended the Bhagavathas, he had no power to pardon him. Then as ordered by Swamigal he washed the feet of Bhagavathas and took that water as prasadam. He became alright then, surrendered to Swamigal and took to Bhagavatha dharma.
Many bhagavathas stayed with Swamigal with their families. Their number grew large and arrangements had to be made for accommodating them. One day the King had come to meet Swamigal. Then Swamigal showed him much affection as usual. He could not speak to the King much and he started unchavrithi. The King unable to part company with Swamigal came along with him in unchavrithi. He was standing by Swamigal’s side and was fanning him. Unchavrithi and Pooja were then over. When Swamigal was alone, the king came near him, offered pranams and trembling, he requested Swamigal’s permission to donate a village, to accommodate Bagavathas who stayed with Swamigal. On hearing this, Swamigal said that if he desired, he might do is, not in his name but register the village in the names of Bhagavathas themselves. The King grew happy, donated a village next to Tiruvisaloor for the exclusive use of Bagavathas and named it Bhagavatha Puram. Swamigal was also highly pleased with the King by this act.
Once the King invited Swamigal to his place. There he stayed for a few days and did Naama Sankeerthana, on the return journey, as usual he came to Panchanadam. After dharshan there, he came to Kapisthalam. There a Brahmin from Marudanallur met Swamigal, offered pranams and began to weep in a loud tone. Swamigal got down from palanquin, consoled the Brahmin and enquired of him what had happened. He told swamigal that Janaki Ammal, his wife had reached Vaikuntam. At once he lost himself, was in a blissful mood due to extreme devotion and danced doing naama Sankeerthana. Then he came to Marudanallur and performed further rites.