Post by Amritha Varshini on Jan 9, 2014 7:59:12 GMT 5.5
Divine Life History of Marudhanallur Sri Sadhguru Swamigal –
By Sri Krishna Premi Anna - Part 5
Superiority of Bakthi and Bhagavatham
Once a Brahmin, who had read many sastras from his childhood came to Swamigal with a heavy heart . He had done many a Sadhana, without realising the importance of sastras and did not attain any fruit thee from, in search of a proper Guru. Sadguru Swamigal gave him darshan as follows.
On the banks of running Cauvery river, Swamigal was sitting under a tree in seclusion. His body was in horripilation. His eyes were full of tears of joy. Japa Sutra was wound round his fingers. He was playing in the nectarine shower of Rama Nama. His splendour resembled that of a crore cupids, with vibhuthi in his head and japa maala in his neck. On seeing Swamigal thus, Swamigal without any doubt whatsoever, said to him, “Bhagavan Nama Keerthanam is the only easy way in the age of Kali for Jeeva to reach Bhagawan. Because, in Bhagavatham, after instructing various dharmas, the yuga dharma was described. It was finally said there that all dharmas will be lost in Kali yuga and only the dharma in the shape of Nama Sankeerthana would shine”.
Likewise bliss derived from Bhajana is greater than that obtained in Moksha (liberation). Hence, great saints like Sanaka, Suka and Narada did not care for Kaivalya (Brahmanandam) and did Hari Keerthanam. Bhajanandam is alone to be the supreme fruit of one’s efforts. Even Kaivalya cannot equal bajanannda. Thus Sanakadi rishis who had realised Brahmanandam did not value that state, much. This is clearly stated in Bhagawatham as follows “The breeze laden with the honey of the Tulasi blossoms, mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of that lotus eyed lord, entered the interior of those sages through the nose and not only thrilled their body but caused a flutter in their minds too, immersed as they were in the joy of oneness with the absolute”.
Hence, Nama Kirthanam is the only sadhana for a jiva. There is no doubt about this. On hearing this, the Brahmin asked Swamigal, why of all the puranas, he was quoting only Bhagavatha purana as authority. Swamigal replied. “When every word of Bhagavatham uttered creates Bakthi by describing the inherent qualities of Hari, which in turn drives away thamo and rajasa gunas. Hence, Bhagavathas who possess shanthi and are engaged in the Nama Kirthana should hear only Bhagavatham”. The Brahmin on hearing this asked Swamigal the reason for his speaking high of Gopikas, leaving devotees like Prahlada. Swamigal replied that Gopikas attained identity with Sri Krishna transgressing all worldly regulation, due to extreme prema towards Krishna, setting aside everything else and singing ever the supreme qualities of Sri Krishna. The Brahmin then asked why he was celebrating Radha Kalyanam in preference to those of Rukmani and other queens of Krishna, Swamigal replied, “Sri Krishna lost himself to Radha, bound by her unusual love towards him. Hence, the greatness of Radha. You need not know anything further. Bhagavatham is the authority for Bhagavatha Sampradaya. If anybody discoursing on Bhagavatha is available. You hear it. If you get anybody to hear it, you read it. If you are alone, you yourself read it, leaving all worldly activities. If you are unable to do Keerthana and are in a lonely place, do Naama Japa. At other times, while engaged in worldly activities, do nama keerthana simultaneously, there is no doubt in this regard”. Saying this Swamigal with great bliss said as follows, “Let our Guru and disciple of Viswadi Kendra, Bhagavan Nama Bodhendra Saraswathi Swamigal shine for ever among Bhagavathas established in Bhajana marga”. He said this in a loud voice with raised hands.
Sadhguru shows his real form
In the Marudhanallur mutt, Swamigal used to be always immersed in Rama Dhayana. His close disciple Venkataram Iyer used to take care of him with devotion. One day he went into the mutt to see Swamigal. There he saw a rare vision. Sri Raghava with Kothanda in his hand was sitting. Sita fully decorated and seated nearby was talking with him. Venkatarama iyer on seeing this again and again was immersed in Great bliss. When he set his foot inside the mutt desiring to go inside, the lady standing there merged, in him. Only then, he understood Sadgugu’s real form. Scintillated by this experience, Iyer fell at sadguru’s feet and told his experience to him. Swamigal, on hearing this, was so glad. He blessed Iyer and his son Kothandarama swamy and Guruswamy. At once Venkatarami Iyer offered at Sadguru Swamigal’s feet all his belongings viz., his house in Marudanallur, 40 velis of land in the village Pattam and Padacheri. On hearing this the villagers nearby wondered at his devotion. Some people wanted to test this also.
Lost Vision Regained
One day at midnight a man saw through the window of the house, where Swamigal was sleeping in a cot. Then he saw a scene in which Seetha and Rama were together, When he forgot himself by seeing this he lost his vision. What could he do? He reaped the fruit for his trying to test Swamigal. Is it an ordinary thing? He could not move from the place. Then the Brahmin cried, Oh, Sadguru, I have committed abachara to you. I am undergoind the resultant sorrow. Please take mercy on me and bless me. “On hearing this, our Sadguru who is an ocean of mercy, rose up and ran to him saying not to worry and uttering Rama Nama, touched his eyes with his lotus hands. What a wonder? He regained his vision. All were filled with wonder on hearing this.
Simultaneous presence in two places
Kandamangalam is a fertile village. People there were engaged in cultivation. One day a person was passing by the cheri, where the harijans lived. There was a great crowd and also much festivity. He looked in that direction and noticed sadguru giving mantra upadesam to a harijan couple. At once, he cried that everything was lost, ran to the agraharam and told this to the Brahmins there. All of them went into the Swamigal’s house and to their wonder saw Swamigal talking with bhaktas, uttering divine nama. Forgetting themselves, they all fell at the feet of Swamigal. They rejoiced repeatedly speaking about what they saw. All were thrilled to hear the incident. He considered Swamigal a Rama himself.
Appointing his successor
One day Swamigal was immersed in dhyana in the mutt. His padukas were kept in the side. He whom he was seeing in his mind in dhyana state gave darsan standing on the padukas, adorning himself with jata, makuta. Kothandarama then came there witnessing this. He forgot himself, placing paduka on his head and standing, he stood before Swamigal. Swamigal regained normal state from the dhyana and noticed him. Swamigal who was in Rama’s state thought that his disciple was Bharatha, and addressed him thus, “Oh Bharatha, come here. I will make you a King now itself”. He asked Kothandarama Swamigal to stand on the padukas and coronated him. All forgot themselves on seeing this. There was no limit to the joy experienced by Venkatarama Iyer who placed all his wealth at the feet of Guru Swamigal.
Vaikunta Arohanam
Sadguru became aware of completion of fourteen years as vowed by him. The time for his mother’s demise also came. Did he not prove that no temple is better than mother? After finishing her last rites like Adi Sankar, he felt that thereafter he should attend to the work to be done my him. He took leave of Kothandarama Swamigal, his principal disciple and proceeded to Tanjore with his other disciples. He finished his evening ritual, in Ganapathi Agraharam village on the northern bank of Cauvery Disciples were surrounding him, loudly uttering Rama nama. Then Swamigal addressed the disciple thus, “See, Sri Vishnu is bringing a vimanam from Vaikuntam to take me there. I feel uneasy. Why are you standing? Utter loudly the Taraka Nama”. Thus saying, he merged in Paramathama swarupa. All were grief stricken unable to bear their separation from their Gurunatha and consoled themselves somehow. He left the mortal coil on chaitra sukla Ashtami. His age was forty one.
Successors
After that the principal disciple Kothandarama Swamigal took the name of Sri Guruswamy, duly practised the dharma established by his Guru and gave intiation in Tharaka Nama to many devotees. Of these, prominent were Maharajas of Sivaganga, Tanjore and Ramanathapuram. They received Suthra and were doing nama Keerthana and Bhajans. When Tanjore Raja was preparing to anoint Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Anjaneyar idols made in silver for his worship, Sadguru Swamigal appeared in the dream of king and ordered him to give them to the mutt. King placed them in a palanquin and brought them with honours in the presence of Gurunathan. He submitted to Gurunatha that he would donate several villages for conducting pooja to devotees. But he did not accept it, saying unchavritti is enough for it. Then he observed the above dharmas for thirty years and made his eldest son his successor, who observed Bhagavatha Dharma for 50 years. He made his eldest son Kothandarama Swamy his successor and attained Vaikunta. He adopted Kalyana Ramaswamy the grandson of his brother Chinna Kuzhantai alias Venkataramaswamy. As Bhodendral blessed Sadguruswamy, our Paramacharyal Sri Chandra Sekarendra Saraswati Swamigal gave mantra upadesa to Kalyana Rama Swamigal. Then he ascended the pita and was conducting the above dharma in a prise worthy manner. Kalyana Swamy adopted Sanyasa asrama under the Name Siva Rama Krishnanda Saraswathy and attained Samadhi. His son Kothandarama Swamy had succeeded him and is conducting well the Nama Samrajya.
CONCLUDED