Sannyasa Dharmam

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

Sri Sadagopan has very succintly brought out how intimately he and his family

have been connected with the Azhagiya Singhars while explaining the Jeeva

Sraddham in reply to the query on the rites to be peformed by a Sannyasi with

reference to the passing away of their Poorvasrama relations.

 

I am yet to carry out the command of Sri Sadagopan to describe the Sannyasa

Sweekaranam of the present Azhagiyasinghar as an Eye-witness of the occasion.

But, I will submit a flashback that occured while reading his post on this

issue.

 

As pointed out by him, when once the Jeeva Sradhham is done, the Sannyasi

severs all connections with his erstwhile family members. Yet, it is very hard

for one who has had a long and happy married life and a very understanding

and co-operative wife and children to suddenly snap all that he had been so

intimately associated with.

 

I was an eyewitness to the incident at his house in West mambalam, in which

the Dharmapathni of Sri Villivalam Swami (that was his Purvasrama Tirunamam)

bade a goodbye to the Swami. And, this fact was also elaborated in the

Nrisimhapriya issue released at the time of the pious lady ascending to

Paramapadam. It was not a tearful send off despite the fact that the two were

leading an ideal Grihastasramam for nearly 40 years.

 

However, when he was performing the Jeeva Sraddham at the Dasavatara Sannidhi,

he stood up and raised his hands to repeat the declaration that he was

thenceforth renouncing all that he had - his wife, his sons, wealth (not much,

anyway) and all his possessions (Maam Madheeyam cha Nikhilam). He was visibly

shaken at that moment. His voice choked for a while and one could see the

poignancy in his eyes as he was pronouncing this in public .Though the

onlookers were so moved that tears rolled down on their cheeks, the Swami had

so much controlled his feelings that there was no tears from his eyes !

 

I vividly remember the events, since I accompanied him in his journey to the

various Divya Desams seeking blessings from the Emperuman , like Kanchipuram,

Thooppul etc.before the actual Sannyasa Sweekaranam. I had arranged to take a

band of members of the Kalakshepam Goshtis in a separate vehicle

 

The Swami had to fast throughout the function and was not to sleep that night.

He was sitting at a spot inside the entrance of the Dasavatara Sannidhi

surrounded by thousands of Sishyas and Abhimanis listening to the discourses

by eminent scholars and answering questions.(More about this later). After a

long and strenuous exercise and travel surcharged with an unprecedented

emotional upsurge, ii is hard to believe how one could withstand all that ,

NOT sleep and be on an empty stomach throughout! Yet, he did it.

 

Later, in a private conversation, the Swmi expressed a sentiment that is still

ringing in my ears. He said "Ramaswamy. I do not regret my renouncing

everything on assuming Sannyasam but what I am sorry for is that I will be

denied the privelege of such " genuine Srothas" who throng to listen to my

Kalakshepams. Where will I get such an intimate and blessed company? Even if

there are some, my duties in the Matam would not permit me time enough to

discuss the Gunanubhavams of the Lord with such "an understanding band of

listeners".

 

That, indeed was his regret ! Now what was our private privelege, has become

public property and millions are now benefitted by his discoures and rightly

so !

 

When the news of the passing away of his erstwhile wife was conveyed to him,

he is reported as not exhibiting any reaction. Many will remember that one of

the erstwhile sons of H.H. Srimad Gopal Desika Maha Desikan of Poundarikapuram

Ashramam was killed in a bombing that took place in the RSS headquarters at

Madras. When the news was conveyed to the Swami, he reamined unmoved.

 

These occasions prove that though our Acharyas may look like any of us, when

it comes to personal grief on the tragic events like this, they remain

uncommonly calm, revealing their piety ,Virakti and their being of Suddha

Satva. and beimg truly divine.

 

Regarding the last rites to be performed for the former parents of a Sannyasi

who predecease him, an exception is made only in respect of the mother for

whom, even a Sannyasi has to do the Karma. Probably to avoid this

" Dharma Samkatam", it is seen that sometimes in our Acharya lineage,

Sannyasa Sweekaranam is postponed till after the passing away of the mother of

the would - be - Sannyasi.

 

Adhi Sankara is reported to have performed the last rites of his mother after

he became a Sannyasi.

 

I will address the other issue later.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy