SREEPADA SREEVALLABHA CHARITHRAMRUTHAM INTRODUCTION The information available in Sree Guru Charitra about Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha is very less. The very first Datta incarnation in Kaliyuga is Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha. The details of His life known to outside world are very meagre. In 1320 A.D. Sreepada Sreevallabha was born as the third Child to Brahmasri Ghandikota Appalaraju Sarma garu and Akhanda Lakshmi Sowbhagyavati Sumati Maharani. Ghandikota family belong to the lineage of Sage Bharadwaja. They are of ‘Aapasthamba Sootra’ tradition. After Sree Sreepada, three sisters named Sree Vidyadhari, Radha and Surekha also were born. The maternal grandfather of Sree Sreepada was Brahmasri Malladi Baapannavadhani garu. His ‘dharma patni’ was Akhanda Lakshmi Sowbhagyavati Rajamamba. A contemporary and a devotee by name Shankar Bhatt wrote the Divine biography of Sree Sreepada in Sanskrit. Its Telugu translation is with me, who belonged to the 33rd generation of Sree Baapannavadhani. In Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamrutham it was stated that it will come into light in the 33rd generation of Sree Baapannavadhani but, it was not explained at what time and in which way it would take place. I was wondering if this Charithamrutham could be made known or not to the outside world. One day, when I was in the area of Bhimavaram, Maavullamma Temple, an elderly beggar asked money for meals. I gave Him 11 rupees. Within two or three days ‘prasad’ from the ashram of Sree Nrusimha Saraswati - Gangapur, came through post. A receipt was also enclosed in that showing the day of receipt which tallied with the day on which I gave 11 rupees to the elderly beggar. In reality I had not sent any money at all to Gangapur. I realized that Sreepada Who is in the form of Sree Nrusimha Saraswati willed that, ‘the Charithamrutham be revealed to the world’. Having realized that the time has arrived, I carefully copied the old book which was brittle and would be torn by mere touch. As mentioned in the ‘Charitaamruta’ I went to Vijayawada and immersed the old copy in Krishna River. The new book which I copied was handed over after performing ‘Paaraayana’, to Sreepada Sreevallabha Maha Samsthan as directed in the Charithamrutham. This year from Vijaya Dasimi (year 2001) to Aswayuja Bahula Ekadasi the ‘Paaraayana’ was done for the first time in the presence of Sreepada in Sree Sreepada MahaSamsthan and the sacred book was handed to Samsthanam. We have affectionate devotion in Sree Sreepada. Ours is a delicate nature and we are pained if anyone speaks jeeringly about this most sacred book. Our family is one that never craves for name or fame or money. However, we deemed it our duty to hand over this Divine Text which is very precious to the devotees of Datta. And it is brought to light as per the will of Sree Guru. This book is one where every letter in it is true. Every letter written in this book is powerful and true. In this book there are no hyperboles or meaningless descriptions. This was written by Shankar Bhatt who did not have much of erudite experience. He was a Kannadiga. Sree Sreepada granted him grace because he was worthy. This book should be made into a book of daily ‘Paaraayana’. When faced with any sort of difficult situations, if an earnest, devoted reading of this book is made and money sufficient for the donation of food for 11 people is utilized, one will attain calmness and peace, at once. This kind of assurance was received actually from Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha and the book was written by His contemporary, Shankar Bhat. Therefore, let Datta devotees make a devoted reading of this sacred Text and derive experience in their lives. You will understand through experience that this book is an ‘Akshara Satya Grandha’. In Service of Datta, Malladi Govinda Deekshitulu, Bhimavaram. 12-11-2001. A PREFACE In this world many troubles and losses will be experienced by a human being through sorrow and infatuation. Who is the protector against them? Who will rescue him from worries and miseries? Then Paramaatma is the only saviour. Only by the grace of God all sorrows are destroyed and peace will be obtained. For that a person should practice ‘stotra’, prayer, japa, meditation etc., of God and devotional reading of sacred books explaining their significance and gain the grace of ‘Paramaatma’. Paramaatma is in the form of Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Parameswara. The Trinity protects, punishes, or teaches all creatures of the Universe. All things happen on account of Them. In Kruta Yuga the Trinity Who were elated with the devotion of Atri, Anasuya incarnated in their house as Sree Dattatreya Swamy – an embodiment of Trimoorthi. He is a Guru Avatar, He Himself is Adi Guru. The aim of this incarnation is to remove ignorance and grant liberation through the attainment of wisdom (Jnana). The path of ‘avadhootas’ is founded only by Him. Devotion unto Dattatreya has been since the days of Krutayuga from Sethu in the South to Himalayas in the North. Countless devotees from that day till to day worshipped Dattatreya and were successful in their pursuit to Peace and Wisdom. When Datta is worshipped an equivalent result is achieved of worshipping Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara at the same time. Datta is ‘Smarthrugami’. It means that when remembered with devotion, He responds at once. He grants sustenance and salvation. In 1320 A.D, in Sree Kshetra Pithikapura in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Sree Dattatreya Swamy was born as the first Datta incarnation under the Divine Name of Sreepada Sreevallabha to the Divine ‘dhampathi’ Appalaraju Sarma and Sumati Maharani. They were ardent Datta devotees and belonged to Aapasthamba sect. Afterwards He reincarnated at Karanjapura in Maharastra with the Name Sree Nrusimha Saraswati. In Guru Charitra the significance of Sreepada Sreevallabha was explained merely in five chapters but, in this ‘Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamrutham’ all 53 Chapters vividly describes about Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha. This great book is really a divine elixir. In this book, Sreepada’s Leelas (sportive plays), His greatness, His highly elevated preachings and His incredible miracles are abundantly presented. This book makes the reader forget this world and brings about a feeling of being in the very presence of Sree Sreepada. The sportive pastimes of Sreepada are like the childhood sportive diversions of Sree Krishna. These ‘Leelas’ give indescribable joy. With this joy, transcendental wisdom is also granted. Sree Sreepada made this biography to be written by His contemporary and devotee, blessed Sree Shankar Bhatt, a resident of Karnataka. When all people read and recollect this sacred Text, they will get rid of all worries of worldly existence and be rewarded with the grace of Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha. As a consequence of that, they will get peace and wisdom. Let them encourage all their relatives, kith and kin and friends to read and earn the compassion of Sreepada Sreevallabha and be gratified. - Sree Sajjanagada Ramaswamy (Disciple of Sridhara Swamy) Founder, Sree SreePada SreeVallabha Mahasamsthanam, Pithapuram http://SreepadaSreevallabhamahasamsthanam.com A small note to readers It is an established fact, that this sacred Hagiography is like sunlight ~ where every word is nothing but a ray of light, every sentence carries the Light from the Source and illumines the reader’s mind. When read with sincere devotion, it is a definite experience that the earnest reader will be able to hear Sree Charana, and experience His presence, as unconditional love swells in the heart for the Divine Child, Sreepada Sreevallabha. He speaks to the sincere reader, through the sacred words in this Sacred Text. They address our concerns, cuts asunder many serious doubts and empower us with strength, devotion and enthusiasm. It greatly inspires one, on the path of Dharma. The Sacred Charithamrutham teaches in subtle terms, yet with a loud voice which pierces through the walls of the tainted intellect and imparts wisdom, thus expanding our awareness and leading our consciousness to higher levels of progress. It is Truth, that every word is True and has power. When read with earnestness, or even when touched with sincere respect and adoration, one can feel the touch of Sreepada’s Divine Charanam (Feet) on this Sacred treatise. The sincere seeker is able to talk and listen to the ancient Lord, learning, understanding and realising the truth while unravelling the many layers - unlearning and then comprehending the incomprehensible. The ancient, yet so young Master, Lord of the cosmos in the guise of a charming Child, in His sportive plays, bestows ineffable joy to the soul. His bountiful grace leads a sincere reader to higher states of consciousness. It should also be kept in mind while reading, that this sacred Hagiography was written centuries ago, when the world operated a little differently. Those were the times when people observed divisions based on caste. Those who followed very strict austerities and observed rituals solemnly for the welfare of the world and were satwic in nature, striving constantly for brahma gnyana were called brahmins. Though there were the odd ones out. The divisions were brought about for the society to function in an organized manner. However, Sree Sreepada is beyond the touch of caste and creed. He embraced people belonging to all castes, divisions and called them His own. He never cares if one is born as a brahmin or a cobbler or any other. As He Himself has stated, He only looks for the inner qualities – not the outer. He has told that all the 18 castes were His children and He has no partiality for anyone and that He grants results according to the dharma karmas followed by people.