The Hindu Article - Saint with a difference

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Date:30/12/2002 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/30/stories/2002123001300900.htm

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Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Saint with a difference

 

CHENNAI DEC. 30 . Saints are the beacon lights of religious life and

their contributions will remain indelible till eternity. Some of them

take upon themselves or were entrusted the task of spreading the

Divine message through delivering lectures, some by teaching

religious exercises to devotees or leading them to places of worship.

A few occupied chief positions in religious institutions. One among

them, who was with us very recently, was totally different. He did

not wear ochre robes or carry a sacred staff and at times he even

behaved in a crazy manner. But he was regarded as God's

representative gifted with a "golden touch". If he, purely by chance,

out of his own volition, visited a shop, the business turnover that

day would be amazing. He had no regular meal and would suddenly enter

a house seeking a little quantity of food. That was Sri Seshadri

Swamigal, who chose the pilgrim centre of Thiruvannamalai for his

stay at the age of 19. Six years after he came there Ramana Maharishi

also stepped in (The former's Aradhana fell on Saturday).

 

Born in Kanchi, "Seshadri" as he was named, studied various

scriptural texts while young. Elders predicted that he would not take

to family life, judged by his peculiar behaviour. He was deeply

devoted to Goddess Kamakshi, used to retire to Her temple and recite

Muka Panchasat. He was initiated by an ascetic and then moved about

as per the "Dattatreya Sanyasa order", rested under the shade of

trees and ate what he was offered. Once at Kaveripakkam, he extended

a hand of welcome to a cobra in the shrine of Siva. For months he

observed silence and stayed in Thiruvannamalai for four decades from

1889. Seshadri "Swami" (by now) discovered the spiritual development

of Ramana and they used to "meet" in silence.

 

The Swami blessed another Divine messenger of Vallimalai asking him

to chant Thiruppugazh. He was endowed with remarkable spiritual

powers and could indicate about happenings, which are to take place

and accordingly advise devotees. His talks were based on harmonising

knowledge (Jnana) and devotion. Speaking at a function, Sri K.V.L.N.

Sarma said the Swamigal was a rare type of Mahatma who veiled his

personality to keep off people at a distance. When he sat in

Padmasana and gave up his body, the light of his life merged in Lord

Arunachala. A Brindavan is being developed on a big scale in a

suburban area of Chennai.

 

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