Seshadri Swamigal

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On the day of the annual death ceremony for his father, Sri Varadaraja Josiar, his uncle Sri Ramasami Josiar and his aunt Kalyani forcibly brought him home from the streets of Kanchipuram where he was roaming, having renounced the worldly way of life, and locked him inside a room in their home, while the annual ceremonies were underway. When this room was opened after the ending of the ceremonies to permit young Seshadri to seek blessings of the departed souls and the priests performing the ceremonies, they were shocked to find him missing from the locked room. It was the first time the family and the entire town that had gathered to witness this, were made aware of the greatness of the young Gnani.[9]

Young Seshadri's journey from thereon, took him first to Kaveripakkam[10] which place was 20 miles west of Kanchipuram and some relatives including Sundarammal, his maternal elder aunt (Periamma) lived. The young saint however did not visit his relatives, but chose to meditate at the Navaratri Mandapam of Sri Mukteshwarar temple, wherein the presiding deities were Lord Mukteeswarar and Sri Alankaravalli.[11] It is here that while circumabulating the temple, a snake climbed up on the young saint and spread its hood as if to protect the young Lord which event was witnessed by his young cousin, named Seshu who went back and narrated it to the entire town. This further added to the fame of the young Gnani.[12]

On hearing of his presence at Kaveripakkam, his uncle and aunt, Sri Ramasami Josiar and Kalyani Ammal rushed from Kanchipuram only to find Seshadri Swamigal immersed in meditation in the temple pond, with a Lingam made of tamarind rice and curd rice, given as alms by his aunt, Sundarammal of Kaveripakkam.[13]

Despite many entreaties, young Seshadri Swamigal was far too detached and had completely renounced any attachment to the worldly life forcing his relatives to let him pursue a life of a renunciate, Sanyasi and a mendicant. After a gap of 2–3 months, where his whereabouts were never clearly known, likely because he never spent much time in any one place, he finally arrived at Thindivanam[14] very close to Tiruvannamalai. By then, he had taken a vow of silence, and was known as "Mouna Swamigal" (the Saint in Eternal Silence (Mounam)). A devotee by name T.K. Kanniyar[15] requested the priest of the famed Sri Thinthirineeswarar temple to open the temple Yangyasalai for Swamigal to meditate. Swamigal requested that the room typically used for performing Homas, fire rituals, be locked from outside and opened after 4 months.[16] Yet, in a spate of worry about Swamigal's health, Sri Kuppuswamy priest opened the same on the 5th day only to find Swamigal in deep meditation. On hearing of the priest's apprehension, Seshadri Swamigal left Thindivanam immediately.[17] Passing through Maarchettikulam, he reached Aiyyanthoppu before his traces were again lost until he resurfaced a few months later in the famed Pandava Caves of ThoosiMamadur village south of Kanchipuram wherein, on hearing of his presence, crowds gathered, which crowds also included Swamigal's biological younger brother, Sri Narasimha Josiar.[18] But before he could meet his older brother, Swamigal had left ThoosiMamadur to reach North Arcot where he spent some time in Muthukumaraswamy temple and Brahmeswaraswamy temple in Fort Street, North Arcot.[19]

After leaving Tirupattur, he crossed Javvadhu Hills and reached Padavedu, 7 miles from Aathuvaampaadi, where he remained for 2 days. Both Tirupattur and Aathuvampaadi housed relatives of Swamigal and in retrospect, it may be analyzed that he went through towns that housed his relatives, without visiting them, as a way of formally renouncing them.[20]

Notably, adjoining, Aathuvampaadi, is a village called Thurinjikuppam[21] which houses the Jeeva Samadhi called Sanyaasi Paarai which Swamigal is reported to have visited before finally reaching Tiruvannamalai.

In ancient times, a widower and his young daughter, widowed at a young age, left for Kasi as was the norm 300–400 years ago. While the widower did not want to take along his daughter, she begged and pleaded only to have him relent and take her along. Father and daughter passed through village after village, living off alms from benevolent villagers, en route to Kasi.[22]

At Thurinjikuppam, some families cast aspersions on his character resulting in him going bereft of food on one day. On inquiring with some kids playing nearby, they playfully said that the village was talking ill of him and his young daughter.[23]

To uphold the truth of his values and that of his daughter, it is said that he ordered her to lie down on a pyre, chanted a hymn to the Sun God, thereby ending her life, instantaneously,[24] and dug a pit in the village pond, and told the same kids to close the pit with mud.[25] The kids, thinking it all to be a game, complied on finding that the sand/stones they were piling on the father, was turning into candy.[26]

This Jeeva Samadhi, where this person is entombed in living state, still stands in this village.[27] and in the Tamil month of Aadi, people from nearby villagers gather to worship this great soul, at the end of which worship, it still rains to this date, in this village.

Seshadri Swamigal visited this Samadhi before finally reaching Tiruvannamalai and never left the place thereafter until his Samadhi.[28]

His Chittapah, Sri Ramaswami Josiar rushed to Tiruvannamalai along with Seshadri Swamigal's younger brother, Sri Narasimha Josiar, to inform him of the longing his aunt KalyaniAmmal had for Seshadri and how she passed away, unable to bear the separation from Sri Seshadri.

As the young saint had become a complete renunciate, his relatives left in resignation after informing authorities to ensure that he is fed properly.[29]

Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharshi were contemporaries. Seshadri actually arrived at Arunachala six years earlier than Ramana. When Ramana Maharshi came to Tiruvannamalai seven years after Seshadri Swamigal's arrival, Seshadri took care of Ramana Maharshi. Sri Seshadri tried to protect the young swami who seemed quite unaware of his body and surroundings.[41] He cleansed Ramana's blood-oozing wounds and revealed Ramana as a [saint] to the world.

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was called Chinna Seshadri by one and all, for the same proclivity to Mouna, deep meditation and Sadhana.[42]

As Bhagavan was driven to Paathala (underground) Lingam in Sri Arunachaleeswarar temple, it was Sri Seshadri Swamigal who protected him.[43] In the Puranas, it is said that when Parasakthi was performing penance to Lord Shiva, it was her son Karthikeya who protected her. In the mundane world, Seshadri Swamigal, verily born of Sri Parasakthi's blessings, guarded over Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, who was considered a manifestation of Lord Kumara, reversing the roles.[44]

Many devotees of one or the other saint have testified in numerous publications, that both have verily said that they are one and the same,

on many occasions, such as in case of Lakshmi Ammal, a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Seshadri Swamigal, who met her on her way to Bhagavan, responded to her thought, assuaging her in response to her silent prayer, "What's the difference, where you serve, here(Him) or there(Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)?"[45]

Similarly, a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who took to narcotic substances in pursuit of spirituality, much against Bhagavan's advice, sought refuge with Seshadri Swamigal, who said "Well, I told you before itself, to avoid it.".[46] This comment, to avoid narcotic substances, was made by Bhagavan to the devotee, and yet Seshadri Swamigal could respond likewise.

Many people have been witness to conversations and lunches that both Gnanis would share. One Vasudeva Sastri states that, on one occasion, Sri Seshadri Swamigal, after intently observing Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, asked of Bhagavan, "What is THIS thinking?", later saying, "Paying Obeisance to Arunachala will result in salvation". This led to Bhagavan breaking his Mouna(silence)[47] and reply "Who is the one paying Obeisance? To who is the Obeisance being paid?". Subsequently, Bhagavan gave an eloquent one hour long exposition on Advaita to which Seshadri Swamigal said that he believes in Bhakti alone, went down, prostrated to Arunachala and left.[48]

Contrary to the above comment about faith in Bhakti, Swamigal was always in the non-dual state as evinced in an incident, wherein, while walking along the Agraharam in Tiruvannamalali, he stopped a passerby to ask him, while pointing to a tethered buffalo, as to what the passerby sees. The passerby said, he saw a buffalo, to which Swamigal correct him saying, "This is Brahman" (The Oneness of existence),[49] thereby proving that Swamigal just communicated the same principle of Advaita albeit in a slightly different manner from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Yet another evidence that both were one and the same, was through the experience of Natesa Mudaliar, who wanted to be graced by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi but was unable to get the grace of the Guru, until he met Sri Seshadri Swamigal, who drove him away, which was taken as a good omen and turned out so, as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi finally graced him with his tutelage.[50]

Quite often, many devotees have been told that there were then three lingams in Tiruvannamalai: Sri Seshadri Swamigal, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Arunachala itself.

His presence in shops, where he would seemingly randomly throw away the cash counter, throw out the inventory, were all eagerly awaited, as it resulted in skyrocketing sales.[51]

Similarly, he would be seen roaming around town, half shaven face, wearing dirty clothes, oblivious of his surroundings or his appearance, absorbed as he was in the Eternal Consciousness.[52]

He would walk into people's homes such as that of Tilak Shastri, told his brother, that he would lose his kid. The kid which was hale and healthy, passed on. Likewise, he walked into one Arunachalam's house and told his father to take 2 bananas before leaving. Arunachalam's father, who was critical, made a dramatic recovery. Thus Swamigal's words always came true.[53]

Seshadri temple main entrance

The Seshadri Swamigal Ashram[54][55] is located in Tiruvannamalai, very close to Ramanasramam.

Rangoli made at Ashram on occasion of Swamigal's birthday, 2020

The consecration of the Sundaravadana Perumal temple in Vazhur, associated with Seshadri Swamigals birth, happened on 12 February 2012.[56]

The author of Swamigal's biography, Mr.Baranitharan,[57] identified the house from which Seshadri Swamigal performed his mysterious vanishing act, first revealing his spiritual powers[58] by seeking guidance from the then pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Matham, Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal.

Kanchi Mahan, advised Sri Baranitharan to first speak to one Ranganathar, then a resident of one of the 5-6 houses, located behind Upanishad Brahma Mutt in Kanchipuram. On contacting Sri Ranganatha Battar, Mr.Baranitharan was told that Sri Seshadri Swamigal's home was in ChinnaKanchipuram, Yannai Kaatti street, with a big garden and grove, as identifying markers.[59]

Mr.Baranitharan, went with a local resident, Padmanabhan, to meet Nallappa Jeeyappangaar who pointed Mr.Baranitharan to a house at the east end of the South Mada Street of Chinna Kanchipuram, and gave evidence of an old schoolmate who was a past resident of that house, it having changed 4 hands since Seshadri Swamigal's time.[60]

When Mr.Baranitharan visited that house, while he did find a dense coconut grove, he found 2 other new structures in that same yard, one being a house with a tiled roof (Ottu Veedu)[61] next to which, there was a small open area, and then a verandah.

It was not clear if the verandah was the remnants of the home from which Swamigal performed his vanishing act, whether it was the structure with a tiled roof or the house which Nallappa Jeeyappangaar had pointed to, as they were all next to each other.

Mr.Baranitharan's conversation with Krishnappa Mudaliar, at the verandah led him to understand that Krishnappa Mudaliar had built the one-storyed house pointed out by Nallappa Jeeyappangar, with the owner being Panchaangakara Iyer, whose relatives lived in the tiled house (Ootu Veedu) next to it. Krishnappa Mudaliar confirmed that there was an elderly person, likely Ramaswami Josiar who lived in the tiled roof house, on whose demise, the house was sold, and likewise, Panchangakara Iyer also purportedly sold the one storey house and moved to Periya Kanchipuram.[62]

Despite Mr.Baranitharan being pointed to the single story house, he decided to see the tiled roof (Ootu veedu) house, stepped in, and had a tour which revealed some interesting insights.[63] While the front portion of the house was demolished, there was still a room on the right side of the living room like layout which looked like the room, someone could be locked in, while ceremonies were being carried out in the living-room-area, leading to Mr.Baranitharan wondering if this was the room from where Swamigal vanished.[64]

He went further into the house, and to his surprise, saw a Miththam, a open-to-sky area, with a well in the middle, typical of old homes, the most likely place of occurrence of Sri Seshadri Swamigal,[65] purportedly pausing while massaging his uncle, Sri Ramasami Josiar's head with oil, claiming that he saw Gandharvas crossing the sky, singing in Raaga Bilahari. This incident occurred well before Swamigal vanished from a locked room, when he was in the initial stages of his renunciation, spending long hours at temples in Kanchipuram, after the demise of both his parents, and his long absences from home causing much grief to Sri Ramaswami Josiar.[66]

That this could be the Mittham and well, where this incident likely occurred, prompted Mr.Baranitharan and his entourage to take pictures and go back to Kanchi Swamigal who was then camping at Kollachatram.[67]

By his spiritual insight, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal confirmed that the Ootu Veedu is the house that Sri Seshadri Swamigal lived in.[68]

On his guidance, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Matham purchased the house from the owner, Sri Sivaprakasam, a portrait of Seshadri Swamigal was installed, homas(fire offerings) were performed daily, and a procedure for performing Sri Seshadri Swamigal's Aradhanai was set in place.[69]

This Aradhanai takes place in the Tamil month of Marghazhi Navami.

Likewise, Seshadri Swamigal's Jayanthi was also begun to be celebrated in the month of Thai in the asterism of Hastha, when Seshadri Swamigal was born.[70]

Subsequently, "Unjuvrithi", where people go around the Argaharam chanting Bhajans was begun, just as in Tirvaiyyaru.[71]

In 1977, rules and regulations for the trust that was established for preserving and celebrating Sri Seshadri Swamigal's heritage, were finalized in presence of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal.

He further gave blessings for a ManiMandapam to be constructed on the premises of the house and when it was completed, it was named, "Sri Kamakoti Seshadri Swamigal Nivasam" and inaugurated in 1989.[72]

Based on His Life and Teachings, DD Podhigai used to telecast a Serial Named as "Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mahathmyam" every Thursday at 7.02 P.M.