SWAMI SRIMAD SAMYAMINDRA THIRTHA The Divine Transition MANGALORE TODAY - FEBRUARY 2016 CCCOOOVER STSTSTO RRORYYY By MAHESH NAYAK glorious manner. An enlightened scholar, of Hindu theology, the other two being Photos: Manju Neereshwallya Swami Sudhindra Thirtha’s tenure lasted ‘Advaitha’ following Shaivite tradition of an unprecedented 67 years and it had seen Adi Shankaracharya and ‘Vishistadvaitha’ N 28TH JANUARY 2016, THE his stature rise to iconic heights. His following SriVaishnavism of Sri Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) charismatic personality was the glue that Ramanujacharya. Ocommunity was witness to a once had kept the community together. It is in The reason ‘Guruparampara’ plays in a lifetime event – the ascension of a his gigantic footsteps that his disciple such a predominant role in GSB new swami as the ‘Matadhipathi’ or the Swami Samyamindra Thirtha will have community life is a historical one. GSBs supreme spiritual head of Shree Kashi to follow and gradually evolve into his claim their origin to the Vedic river Math Samsthan. It is on this day that innate spiritual persona. Saraswati, in north India. This river was Swami Srimad Samyamindra Thirtha The concept that this system gradually lost to the earth and the formally assumed leadership of the manifests, known as ‘Guruparampara’ is community subsequently migrated to Swami Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha The idols of Vyas Raghupathi, Swami Srimad Samyamindra Thirtha 20th Matadhipathi of Ramachandra and Narasimha and other 21st Matadhipathi of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan dieties of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan Shree Kashi Math Samsthan community as the 21st Matadhipathi of the central to GSB community life. various places to finally settle down in Math, thus continuing an unbroken line ‘Guruparampara’ is in essence, a Goa on the Konkan coast. Following the of succession spanning 475 years. The pontifical order commonly identified in Portuguese invasion of Goa, the grand ceremony to mark the occasion, mainstream Hinduism as ‘Guru Math’ or community was forced to further disperse which took place in Haridwar, reflected as ‘Dharma Peeta’. Under this system, in order to escape religious persecution. the royal splendour that the community the Math serves the role of a spiritual While some moved to neighbouring showers on the leader who is hailed as institution dedicated to the ideals of a southern Maharashtra, a large section ‘Guru Maharaj’, a title embodying the patron deity and a particular stream of settled all along the West Coast up to concept of ‘philosopher-king’. theology. Shree Kashi Math Samsthan has Kochi. Mangalore and DK district too has The last such event to have taken place Shree Vyas Raghupathi as the patron deity a sizeable GSB population. Being of was in the year 1949, when his and follows ‘Vaishnavism’ and the Vedic origin, the community was rooted predecessor and Guru, Swami Srimad ‘Dvaitha’ school of Vedanta, propounded in religion. With a well organised Sudhindra Thirtha had succeeded Swami by the great sage Madhwacharya. This religious fabric comprising a network of ransition Srimad Sukrithindra Thirtha in a similarly philosophy forms one of the three streams clan temples and a centralising ‘Guru MANGALORE TODAY - FEBRUARY 2016 15 CCCOOOVER STSTSTO RRORYYY Math’ system, the community had thrived in Goa. Having left all this behind, the community now felt lost and a need was felt to reboot its former identity by establishing a new spiritual lineage. Moreover, it is also said the then king of Travancore who ruled their new homeland of Kerala, had declined to grant formal recognition to the new migrants in the absence of a guiding force in the form of a spiritual guru. During those days large parts of Kerala and Karnataka were affiliated to Kumbakonam Math. Hence, the GSB community people of Kochi took the initiative to approach Sri Vijayendra Theertha Swami of Kumbhakonam Math, Swami Srimad Samyamindra Thirtha during who was then camping nearby. his anointment ceremony at Haridwar in 2002 Explaining their predicament, they prayed to him to anoint one of their own as his Varnashrama system - the Hindu code of disciple and initiate the formation of new life. This is the final stage of renunciation ‘Dharma Peeta’ for the community. Sri in preparation of transition to the other Vijayendra Theertha Swami obliged their world. It is supposed to be attained in old request and anointed Swami Srimad age after retirement and after fulfilling all Yadavendra Thirtha who went on to of one’s worldly duties and desires. become the first ‘Matadhipathi’ of Shree However, in the case of a swami of a Kashi Math Samsthan which was monastic order like Shree Kashi Math, one established in 1541. Since then the Math enters Sanyas at a young age, thereby tradition has been continued by 20 of his precluding all other intermediary stages successors including the present Swami of life such as profession, family and Samyamindra Thirtha. retirement. Furthermore, Hinduism allows Apart from Shree Kashi Math, which one to be a swami at any age or stage in is based in the holy city of Varanasi, GSBs life. Such monks live solitary lives or join owe allegiance to two other Guru Peetas. ENCE THE INSTITUTION OF any of the existing monastic orders. But Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya swami has come to play a great in the case of anointment of future heads Kavale Math is the oldest of these. It was Hunifying role in GSB community of institutions like Shree Kashi Math, who founded in 740 AD by Shri life. The swami is considered to be the has the responsibility of providing Gaudapadacharya who was the guru of spiritual guide of the community and is administrative and community leadership, Shri Adi Shankaracharya and it follows placed above all. Up on accepting the role, early initiation is a must. Shaivite tradition. Shrimad Shivananda the individual is required to completely The process of selection is an elaborate Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, the renounce his former human identity. This one. Traditionally, it is said the identity present Peetadipathi, is the 77th head of lifelong commitment involves acceptance of the candidate is revealed to the guru this Math, which is based in Goa. The of celibacy and personal poverty, as being swami in a dream. After a background other Peeta, Shree Samsthan Gokarn a monk the swami can have no worldly check of the boy, his horoscope is then Partagali Jeevottam Math was founded in possessions. Attaining knowledge, summoned for studying his suitability for 1475 and is based in Goa. Shri engaging in spiritual enquiry and devotion his future role. It is essential that his Vidhyadhiraja Theertha Shripad Vader to religious duties are the only pursuits horoscope should indicate both Swami is the 24th Matadhipathi of this then on. ‘Sanyasayoga’ and ‘Rajayoga’ – a math. Like Shree Kashi Math it follows The concept of ‘swami’ is in turn predestiny for the life of a monk as well Vaishnavite tradition and is affiliated to embedded in the concept of ‘Sanyas’ which as that of a king respectively – as his future Madhwa philosophy. is the final stage of life according the role demands a harmony of these two 16 MANGALORE TODAY - FEBRUARY 2016 CCCOOOVER STSTSTO RRORYYY qualities. After passing these requirements, the formal announcement is made with the consent of the prospective candidate and his parents. In the case of Swami Samyamindra Thirtha, a formal selection process was launched at the turn of the millennium and he became the chosen one after scrutiny of 48 horoscopes that were collected. Born on 12th September 1982, his birth name was Umesh Mallan. When the call came from the Samsthan, he was 18 years of age and was studying in the 2nd year of B. Com course at Laxmi College at Paravaoor in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He was the younger of two sons and his father Surendra Mallan was employed as a stenographer at Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, Kochi which Rare photo of Samyamindra Thirtha being blessed by Guru before being anointed as Shishya functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is It is considered to be a great honour which fell on 20th June 2002. The rituals engaged in the design and development of to be called upon to serve the Math and took place at Vysashram in Haridwar on underwater surveillance systems for the boy cheerfully bowed down to the new the banks of the holy river Ganga. defence applications. It is said the young future that awaited him. He was formally Elaborate series of homas and havans were boy was dreaming of pursuing a career anointed by his Guru Swami Srimad performed as part of this ceremony. One the army and serving the nation, when the Sudhindra Thirtha by conferring Sanyas of the rituals that one has to perform before divine destiny unfolded before him. Deeksha on Jyesta Shuddha Dashami accepting Sanyas Deeksha is the ‘Atma Shraddha’. This is the performance of File photo : Shishya Sweekar by Guru Swami Sudhindra Thirtha one’s own last rites, which are normally done after death by one’s children. This signifies his renunciation of his birth identity and the acceptance of celibacy. Thereafter, Shishya Sweekar ceremony was performed, whereby the guru formally accepted the youth as his shishya or disciple. In recognition of his new spiritual identity, a new name was accorded to him by the guru. The choice of the new name is the prerogative of the guru swami and he chose the name of ‘Samyamindra’ which is said to mean ‘one who has total mastery over all the senses’ as ‘Indriya’ refers to our sensory faculties. It is a long standing tradition that the name of every swami of Shree Kashi Math ends with the suffix ‘indra’ or ‘endra’. Those who take interest in symbolism surmise a deeper meaning in the choice of the name.