Sri Kanchi Mahaswami

V.V.S.Manian
A rare gem among saints

What makes the Sufi? Purity of heart;
Not the patched mantle and the lust perverse
Of those vile earth-bound men who steal his name.
He in all dregs discerns the essence pure:
In hardship ease, in tribulation joy.
The phantom sentries, who with batons drawn Guard Beauty's palace-gate and curtained bower, Give way before him, unafraid he passes,.. Rumi

In ancient days there were not many saints. Today you have dime a dozen persons who call themselves saints, Jagadh gurus, sadhus, spiritual leaders, soothsayers, etc. A “new breed of sanyasis”, who indulge in everything from rape, murder squandering devotees’ money to satisfying their sex urges and five star living have sprung up. Among this criminal crowd of saffron scoundrels, it is very difficult to cull out a true sanyasi who can guide the troubled world to walk in the path of divinity, devotion and prayer. In the present day, pursuing a saint’s life is a highly lucrative profession; easy to wear ochre robes and proclaim oneself as path finder of prosperity and heaven. There are enough superstitious suckers who fall into this trap. Women devotees unwittingly lose their chastity and hard earned money to some flamboyant sanyasis.

Profile of a true saint

The rishis, seers, sadhus, sanyasis, gurus and acharyas, were the storehouse of spiritual knowledge. They scrupulously followed Hindu dharma and were considered as Gods on earth. Swami Sivananda while narrating the glory of saints observes “To him (saint) the whole world is mere straw. To him pleasure and pain are the same. The saints are the Gods on earth... the saints constitute a ladder for the pilgrims to the shrine of God. Through history, the saints have played a great part in preserving spiritual values in the world. A saint is a spiritual washer man. He applies soap of devotion and knowledge and removes spots of sin in worldly people.” Today, it is the public and the police who wash the dirty linen of overfed fat God men. This cluttered lot of ‘spiritual’ crowd painfully drives us to recollect some of the great souls of the past era who have given everything to the world and took nothing in return. Among the few noble sages, let me recall the rarest of gem among sages, Jagadguru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal

Jagadguru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal is popularly known as the sage of Kanchi, Maha Swamigal. He was the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. He was respectfully and fondly addressed by all devotees as Paramacharya, MahaSwami or Maha Periyavaal.

• Swamimalai
• Lord Swaminatha

Courtesy: Keshav

Maha Periyavaal was born on 20 May 1894, under Anuradha star, in a Smartha Hoysala Karnataka Brahmin family in Viluppuram, South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. He was the second son of Subramanya Sastri. His mother Mahalakshmi was a Kannada Brahmin from the village Icchangudi near Thiruviyaru. The child was named Swaminathan, after the family deity, Lord Swaminathan of Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam.

Kumbakonam is famous for its temples and mutts (monasteries). There are around 188 Hindu temples in this town. Apart from this, there are over a thousand temples in the surrounding area, thereby giving the town the sobriquet “Temple Town” and “City of temples”. The town is well known for renowned educational institutions, carved panchaloka idols, brass and metal wares. Kumbakonam is also famous for silk products. The temples have stunning architectural beauty with exquisite pillars, carved drawing o walls and legendary stories.

Kumbakonam and surrounding areas are the birth place of many saints, scholar and musicians. The fertile and green flush fields and Cauvery water has inspired many and fertile brains bloomed in the tiny hamlet.

Swaminathan began his early education at the Arcot American Mission High School at Tindivanam, where his father was working. He was an exceptional student and excelled in several subjects. He won a prize for his proficiency in recitation of the "Holy Bible". In 1905, his parents performed his Upanayanam, a Vedic ceremony, which qualifies a Brahmin boy to begin his Vedic studies under an accomplished teacher.

During the childhood of Acharya, his father consulted an astrologer who, upon studying the boy's horoscope, is said to have been so stunned that he prostrated himself before the boy exclaiming that "One day the whole world will fall at his feet."

66^th Acharya

In 1906, the 66th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, performed the annual Chaturmasyam (a forty-day annual ritual performed by Hindu ascetics while remaining in one place), in a village near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu. Swaminathan who happened to be present on the occasion greatly impressed the Acharya. This was Swaminathan’s first exposure to the Math and its Acharya.

In February 1907, the Kanchi Kamakoti Math had informed Subramanya Sastrigal that Swaminathan’s cousin Lakshminathan was to be installed as the 67th Peetathipathi. The presiding Acharya was suffering from smallpox and had the premonition that he might not live long. He had, therefore, administered upadesa to his disciple Lakshminathan before he died.

Sastrigal being away on duty arranged for the departure of Swaminathan with his mother to Kanchipuram. The boy and his mother started for Kalavai (where Lakshminathan was camping) to console his aunt who, while also being a widow, had just given up her only son to be an ascetic.

The 67th Acharya also died. Swaminathan was installed as the 68th head of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on February 13, 1907, the second day of the Tamil month of Masi, Prabhava year. He was given Sanyasa Asramam at the early age of 13 and was named Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.

On May 9, 1907 his "Pattabishekam" as the 68th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam was performed at Kumbakonam Math. Devotees including Shivaji Maharaja of Tanjore, government officials and pundits participated in the event. Even though there was not enough property in the mutt, the court considering the benefit of the mutt, ordered the mutt to be administered under the “Guardian and Wards Act”. Sri C.H.Venkataramana Iyer, an illustrious personality from Kolinjivadi village near Coimbatore was appointed as guardian by the court. The administration of the mutt was under guardianship from 1911 to May 1915. On Sankara Jayanthi Day in the year 1915, Swamigal took over the administration of the mutt on completion of his 21 st year. The administration of the mutt was taken over in name only; the actual work was taken care of by an agent, Sri Pasupathi Iyer. Sri Swamigal did not sign any document; instead “Sri Mukham stamp” was placed on documents.

Maha Periyava spent several years in the study of scriptures and dharma shastras and acquainted himself with his role as Head of the Math. He soon gained the reverence and respect of devotees and people around him. Maha Periyava was the head of the Mutt for eighty-seven years. During this period, the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam acquired new strength as an institution that propagated Sankara’s teachings. Throughout his life, the focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating old temples, encouraging Vedadhyayanam and study of Dharma Sastras, which had suffered decline. "Veda rakshanam” " was his very life breath, and he referred to this in most of his talks.

Pata yaatra

The sage of Kanchi undertook pilgrimages on foot from Rameswaram in the south to Kasi in the North. By providing support to Veda Patasalas through the Veda Rakshana Nidhi which he founded and honouring Vedic scholars, he reinvigorated Vedic studies in India. He organized regular sadhas ('conferences') which included discussions on arts and culture—these led to a renewed interest in Vedic religion, Dharma sasthras, and Sanskrit. His long tenure as Pitadhipathi is considered by many as the Golden Era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. He attained Mukti (died) on January 8, 1994 and was succeeded by Sri Jayendra Saraswati.

“The sage of Kanchi” left behind a treasure house of knowledge (Kanchi Math) and huge wealth in the “land of thousand temples”, with a hope that his inheritors would live a true saintly life as inscribed in the Vedas and teach the values of disciplined life.

Kanchi Mutt

Miracles o Mahapriyava

Stamped wish

Indira Gandhi had a special liking for Kanchi Mahaswami and hence for 1983 Sankara Jayanthi, she wanted to release a stamp on Adi Sankara. She did not want to release it without getting permission from Periyavaa and hence she had sent Sri. C.Subramaniam, who was the minister of agriculture and an ardent devotee of Periyavaa, to Satara where he was stationed. Kanchi Mahaswami treats everybody as equal. When CS came, he asked him the purpose of his visit. CS humbly told him that he had come to take his permission to release the stamp of Adi Sankara. Kanchi Acharya smilingly replied, ‘permission means you have already decided to release the stamp. You have come here to convey the information. If I give my opinion that would be binding on the government’. CS responded to Mahaswami that the Prime Minister was clear that whatever was the desire of Acharya, it would be carried out. CS presumed that Acharaya would concur with the government's decision. Mahaswami made it explicitly clear that he was against the release of the stamp. He said that people would lick the stamp for affixing it on envelopes. He further added that in case the PM wished to release the stamp it was her wish. ‘I gave my opinion since you have come all the way and asked for it’. Indira Gandhi understood what Mahaswami meant and immediately gave up the idea. Indira had great respect for Mahaswami.

Brewing vision

An old couple was ardent devotees of Sri Kanchi Periyava. Both were coffee addicts and wanted to stop drinking coffee as per Mahaswami’s wish. For many years, the old couple remained addicted to coffee. One fine day they decided to stop it. The first day they stopped it, their thoughts were circling around the aroma of coffee only. The couple managed to spend three days without drinking coffee. On the fourth day, they offered the coffee as neiveidyam to Mahaswami and consumed the coffee as prasadam. After three weeks the couple went to Kanchi to have darshan of Periyava. When the couple approached Mahaswami, they heard him talk about coffee to another devotee. Kanchi Mahaan looked at the old couple and addressed another gentleman sitting near him: “The coffee made in their home is really good. Find out from where they are buying the coffee powder” .The old couple was shocked and couldn’t speak. Mahaswami gave them plenty of prasadam. Mahaswami blessed them with the divine power to see what was happening around him and what ardent devotees do whenever they decide. Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara.

Quantum Theory

Sri Yuvaraja (Son of Sandoor Maharaja) was working as Head of the Department (Mathematics) in a foreign university. When he visited Kanchi Mahaswami, he asked him what he was doing. Yuvaraja sarcastically replied “Mathematics,” thinking that the saint may not be conversant with his subject Quantum theory. Acharya casually asked him the subject of his specialization and research. Yuvaraja reluctantly told him that he was doing research on Quantum theory. Immediately, Kanchi Mahaswami drew 2 circles in the sand and marked + (plus) in one circle and – (minus) in the other circle. Then Kanchi Mahaswami asked him, “Is your research on Quantum Theory a positive approach or negative approach?” Yuvaraja was stunned. The casual attitude disappeared. He said “positive approach showing the + (plus) sign”. Kanchi Mahaswami showed the – (minus) sign and asked, “Did you not do this?” When Yuvaraja was contemplating his reply, Kanchi Mahaswami said, “Because it is difficult you didn’t do. Is it?”

Kanchi Mahaswami started saying that Quantum Theory positive approach appears in Veda and Kanchi Mahaswami said how one divides into many. Now, Yuvaraja was totally taken aback. Kanchi Mahaswami continued that, “The advaita Vedanta philosophy also says how one divides into many like the Quantum Theory positive approach. Kanchi Mahaswami laughingly added, “had you known this earlier, you would have probably learnt Vedanta here itself instead of going and doing your research abroad”.

From this, one can easily realize the fact that Kanchi Mahaswami is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. A very complicated matter will be explained by Him in the most beautiful way which even small children can understand easily. All those who are listening will also understand the matter clearly. Listening to Kanchi Mahaswami is a great experience that one would even forget their food, sleep and even flies and mosquitoes entering their mouth because one would be immersed totally in a delightful state or bliss. Even pundits, scholars would be extremely delighted and would say that they had not heard such things earlier and always rejoiced among themselves.

The King Cobra

This incident happened in the year 1983. Kanchi Mahaswami and His disciples were staying in a school at Maruthur (near Andhrapradesh Karnataka border). The school had only two classrooms. On the other side there was a space in between, followed by two rooms and a playground. The school had windows but no doors. Srikantan was preparing for Sri Kanchi Mahaswami’s Bhiksha. Sri Kanchi Mahaswami was sitting near the window and performing His maanasika pooja. With a curiosity to know what Kanchi Mahaswami was doing, Srikantan looked at Kanchi Mahaswami and was stunned to see a big black King Cobra near the window. Srikantan called Ekambaram and Balu to show the big black King Cobra near the window. All of them got scared and kept quiet without making any noise as it might lead to some trouble to the little crowd standing outside to have darshan of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami. While Kanchi Mahaswami was deeply engrossed in His pooja performing sahasranama archana, the black King Cobra looked at Kanchi Mahaswami and moved backwards. The black King Cobra was silently participating in the pooja for more than 5 minutes without changing its position. This proves that Kanchi Mahaswami was an avatar of Lord Shiva. After the pooja got over, the disciples Srikantan, Ekambaram & Balu shared this incident with Kanchi Mahaswami. He laughed and said Is It?

Arunachala

A close shishya of Kanchi Mahaswami, Vedapuri wanted to go to Tiruvannamalai. After completing his routine task in the Mutt, Vedapuri approached Kanchi Mahaswami to seek his approval before starting. Kanchi Mahaswami was not giving him the green signal. Actually, Vedapuri wanted to visit his daughter in Tiruvannamalai. Vedapuri however told Mahaswami that he wanted to go to perform giri pradhakshana in Tiruvannamalai. Kanchi Mahaswami looked at Vedapuri and said 'You come around me 3 times. That is enough. That is giri pradhakshana '. Vedapuri was stunned. Later, Mahaswami allowed him to go to his daughter's place. A true saint can see through the intentions of the people.

Goddess Kamakshi

This incident happened in Kanchi Mutt. Once after the day's anushtanam, pooja and darshan to the devotees were over; Periyava called the Mutt Manager and asked him to read the daily accounts Statement. Before the manager could start, Kanchi Mahaswami said "Look, the oil lamp is glowing (Deepam Yeriyardhu).The Holy Cow is here (Gomatha). Pointing to himself 'A sanyasi is sitting in front of you. Lord Chandramouleeswara and Kamakshi are all there as witnesses. Now, you read the accounts statement.

The manager read the accounts statement and ended up with a balance of mere 25paise. It was almost close to midnight, when the manager finished reading. Kanchi Mahaswami told the manager to go and put the balance to any of the beggar in the street who was awake. When the manager gave a look expressing "what will we do for tomorrow?” Kanchi Mahaswami said "Kamakshi will take care tomorrow". Goddess Kamakshi gives whatever Mahan asks for.

The Cricket

"Has Swamigal ever seen a Cricket Ball?!" I have seen Him right since my childhood; the earliest I recall seeing Him is when I was 6 or 7 years old. I always used to go to the Matam during my holidays when I was in school and college. All my vacations were spent with Him.

Once I went to have His darshan in Elayaathangudi when I was in my 2nd year in college. And the next day early morning before He commenced poojas, I told Him I was leaving. He asked me, "Wait, what is the hurry?!" I told Him, "I am playing in a cricket match tomorrow". "Match? Do you play for your college?"
"Yes."
"Are you a bowler or batsman?" "Both", I replied.
"Are you a fast bowler or a spin bowler"?
"Fast".
"Are you an Opening Bowler? Do you bowl with the New Ball"?
"Yes." "Do you bowl in swingers or out swingers?" "Both". "Out swing means, you hold the seam of the ball upright and point it in the direction of first/second slips and bowl with this action, no?” said Sarveshwaran. He showed me the action and I was stunned! "In swing means, the seam of the ball is pointed in the direction of leg slip and bowled with this action, no?" Has He ever watched cricket being played or has he ever seen a cricket ball?! He took a class that day and eventually let me go! Narrated by the very blessed Shri Chandrasekhar, who is the son of Pollachi Jayam Patti! Out swing and in swing? Wow. Shankara. "He showed me the action and I was stunned!" How I wished that I could see His Action! Shankara!

The Jaggath Guru

This story dates back to the year 1933, when Kanchi Mahaswami was in Varanasi. Kanchi Mahaswami was received in the palace of the Kasi King. Many important personalities and learned men (Pundits) were also present. In the Pundits' mind there was an element of jealousy. How can he, Kanchi Mahaswami, have the title ‘Jaggat guru’.

One of the Pundits thundered, “Who is this Jaggath Guru”? Periyava politely replied: “I am” The Pundit then remarked sarcastically: “So you are the Jaggath Guru” Kanchi Mahaswam replied: जगता गरः न - When I say I am Jaggath Guru, I Did not

• ं
• ु

mean to say, I am The Guru of this Jaggath.
जगतत पद्मनाः सर मम गररः all living beings in this world are my Gurus.

ु

The Pundits were completely taken aback by this simple but yet great explanation. Kanchi Mahaswami did not stop with that. In that hall where this debate was going on there were some nests built by

ं

• sparrows. Kanchi Mahaswami pointed to one of them and asked the Pundits कꢁ इद
• ं?

What is this? The Pundit replied: नीडः Nest

Kanchi Mahaswami asked: ꢁन तनरमत

े

ं? By whom was this built?
The Pundit Replied: चटꢁः by the sparrow.

ै

Periyava continued: This nest is built by birds which do not have hands or legs. We have hands and legs. Yet we are unable to build a nest like the sparrow. The sparrow has Kriya Shakti (कꢃ्ा शकꢄत) but I do not have that Shakthi.

Hence this sparrow is my GURU!!!

Saranam

Mr. and Mrs. Chandramouli from Bangalore once came to have darshan of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami. At that time, in the street outside, a merchant was selling rice shouting “Arisi Vangalayo Arisi Vangalayo” (Rice for sale)

Kanchi Mahaswami said to the couple “Do you know what he is saying? He is telling us not to waste time by talking about useless worldly things. Instead he is reminding us, in the morning, to talk about Hari and Siva. I hear his saying as ‘Hari Siva Engalaya’ (Say Hari, Siva)”

Kanchi Mahaswami who is none other than Easwaran said “Arisi (Rice) will fill our stomach. Hari, Siva Japam will fill our Mind.”

Padapooja

Rajagopal Iyer, an ardent devotee of Kanchi Mahaswami was employed in Karnataka. He had Mahaperiyava's padukas at home and was doing Pada Puja with absolute devotion.

Once, he had gone officially near Sringeri. Rajagopal decided to go to the Sringeri Mutt and get the blessings of Acharya and Saradambal. Somehow, he had a feeling that "I am doing Pada Puja to Kanchi Mahaswami padukas and I have come to Sringeri Mutt for darshan of Acharya. Is it Right?”

When Rajagopal turn came for darshan, the Acharya of Sringeri, Sri Bharathi Thirtha Swamigal asked Rajagopal Mama, "Pada Puja Ellam Nanna Nadakkaratha? Kshemma Iruppezh (Hope the Pada puja went on well. You will have a prosperous life.) Rajagopal Mama was surprised and stunned. The Acharya gave Rajagopal with plenty of Prasadam. Gnanis have vision and foresee things as it would happen.

Now, Rajagopal lives in Salem. Mama resides in the First Floor and the ground floor is called "Periyava Graham". Many people today visit Periyava graham at Salem and feel Sri Kanchi Mahaswami's presence there. The above incident was narrated to me by Rajagopal at Periyava Graham.

Gold coin

Paramacharya had announced a plan, with the intention of spreading the divine karma of writing and chanting the holy Rama Nama, among all people far and wide. According to this plan, He would give a gold coin along with kumkum, to everyone who wrote One Lakh times ‘Rama Jayam’ and submitted it to Him. Many people started writing Rama Nama, for the sole purpose of receiving a gold coin from Paramacharya. Many devotees, when they came for darshan used to bring the notebooks containing ‘Rama Jayam’, submit to Paramacharya and receive the gold coin from Him.

In order for this good habit to grow among people more and more, he made another plan, according to which, those who were unable to write One Lakh Namas, could write at least one eighth of that number that is 12,500 and receive a silver coin from him. As he expected, the number of people writing the Nama, grew day by day. Even during Acharya’s yatra time, the attendants used to take with them a few gold and silver coins, so that, those who came for darshan along with notebooks with Nama written there, could be given the gold or silver coin. Once during His visit to Chennai, he was camping in Sanskrit college and giving darshan.

A little girl, came to him one day, prostrated and placed a notebook in front of Him and said, “Please give me a silver coin.” Sri Kanchi Mahaswami, gave her a silver coin, asking her “Have you written Rama Nama correctly?” with a laugh.
“Yes” she said, took the silver coin and hurriedly left the place. This happened in the morning. In the afternoon, the same little girl was walking here and there in front of Acharya and searching for something. As time passed, her eyes started swelling with tears, and she started crying slowly.

Observing all this, Acharya asked his attendant to call her. She came and stood in front of Him wiping the tears from her eyes.