SannyAsa in the quest for Realisation -- A live conversation

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

In view of the ongoing discussion on SannyAsa and

Realisation, in another thread, I make bold to recall some

extracts from the biography of Shri Ramananda Saraswati

Swamigal (whose Grahastashrama name was G. Ramachandra

Iyer, (1867 – 1936) a leading advocate of Tirunelveli in

the early years of the 20th century). This biography was

written by his son Shri R. Krishnaswamy Iyer, also a

leading advocate, in his own right, and who took Sannyasa

later in his life and was known as JnAnAnanda Bharati

Swamigal. The family had undivided devotion and respect for

the Sringeri Mutt and obeyed strictly whatever the Sringeri

Acharyas said.

 

The context of this conversation is the extreme desire of

Shri Ramachandra Iyer to take to Sannyasa. The date of

these conversations: 1921 – 22. He was then spending all

his time in the vicinity of the Sringeri Mutt, studying

all the ShAstras pertaining to SannyAsa, as per the AjnA

(orders) of the Acharya. He was living like a sannyasi but

was still in the Grahastashrama.

 

Krishnaswamy (the son, visiting the father at the Ashram,

asking the Acharya, about his father): I know fully well

that my father is deeply interested in acquiring

Atma-jnAna. But Your Holiness and the Paramacharya have

said many a time that even a Grahasta (householder) can

have Realisation. Why should he have to change to

Sannyasa-ashram now? Why can’t he stay just as he is now?

 

The Acharya: Yes. Even a Grihasta can have

Atma-sAkShAtkaraM. He can stay as he is.

 

K: Shall I carry this message of Your Holiness to my

father?

 

K got an assent to this question and told Shri G.R. Iyer

about the conversation. Now Shri Iyer answers.

 

R (Shri G. Ramachandra Iyer): You did not ask the right

question with the Acharya.

 

K: What was wrong with my question?

 

R: Whether a Grihasta can get Realisation (JnAnaM) or not

is not relevant here. To acquire JnAna, which one is the

better means, between Grihastashrama and Sannyasashrama?

That is the question you should have asked. If you had

asked that question, the Acharya would have said it is

Sannyasa that is better. It is in accordance with that I am

trying to move over to Sannyasashrama.Being in

Grihastashrama it is very very difficult to acquire JnAna.

May be one meritorious person in a million may achieve it.

 

Shri K. carried this message to the Acharya and the Acharya

replied:

 

The Acharya: What he says is correct. It is true that there

is no limitation on Grihastashrama that it will not lead to

JnAna. But to be led to that is *durlabha* (difficult to

obtain). Further once when a Grihasta gets it into his head

that he will not be able to get JnAna, then he has to move

over to Sannyasa. To follow the strictures of that Ashrama,

particularly in these modern days, is a great uphill task

and he should have known it by now, having read all the

relevant literature. He is still reading further

literature on the subject. After seeing all this, if he is

confident that he can follow the regulations for the

Ashrama, then I will have to give him permission. When a

qualified person requests to move over to Sannyasa Ashrama,

it should not be rejected – say the ShAstras. Therefore,

don’t have any worries about this matter.

 

 

Later, after some more time, Shri Ramachandra Iyer took

Sannyasa on July 21, 1922 right in Sringeri itself. He

moved to several places in Trichy Distirict later and

attained Siddhi on Dec.25, 1936.

 

Incidentally, Shri Ramachandra Iyer and my father Shri R.

Visvanatha Sastrigal were first cousins.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

 

The contents page of my website has been updated now to include a topic-wise list of every page of the site and a link to each. You may want to have a look at

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/contents.html

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk

wrote:

>

> Namaste.

>

> In view of the ongoing discussion on SannyAsa and

> Realisation, in another thread, I make bold to recall some

> extracts from the biography of Shri Ramananda Saraswati

> Swamigal (whose Grahastashrama name was G. Ramachandra

> Iyer, (1867 – 1936) a leading advocate of Tirunelveli in

> the early years of the 20th century). This biography was

> written by his son Shri R. Krishnaswamy Iyer, also a

> leading advocate, in his own right, and who took Sannyasa

> later in his life and was known as JnAnAnanda Bharati

> Swamigal. The family had undivided devotion and respect for

> the Sringeri Mutt and obeyed strictly whatever the Sringeri

> Acharyas said.

 

 

Namaste Sir,

 

The Swamigal referred to above had authored a book titled 'The Hindu

Ideal'. Is that book available now? I had long ago read it, but it

is not available for me.

 

Sri Ramananda Saraswati Swamigal took sannyasa in his 54th year. A

book titled 'Sri Ramananda Charitam' in Tamil, is with me. It

contains several details about the Swamigal. It is published by Sri

Chandrashekhara Bharati Brahmavidya Trust, 'Srikanta vilas', 5,

Brindavan Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600004.

 

I have heard of an interesting anecdote regarding him: He was a

wandering mendicant when he used to go for bhiksha to a particular

agraharam. Another sannyasi was with him at that time. In a

particular house, the housewife used to give along with bhiksha, to

be received in hands, some sweet-meats as well often. The

accompanying sannyasi liked this very much and used to prefer to go

to that house for bhiksha often. Sri Ramanada Saraswati Swamigal

felt that this kind of pampering a sannyasi is inimical to the very

discipline that has to be observed in that ashrama. One day, that

lady gave a very big packet containing 'poli' (holige in kannada).

Sri Swamigal told her 'If this is going to continue, i would avoid

coming to this house for bhiksha henceforth'. It seems the other

sannyasi was upset with this remark and eventually they parted

company.

 

Sri Swamigal lived as an avadhuta in Devar malai Hills and Kollimalai

forests. in his final days. A photo of his early sannyasa days

depict him as wearing the ochre robe just upto his knees.

 

Pranams,

subbu

[Guest guest]

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That is a very touching account - real life incidents of mahatmas

such as them are always inspiring to read about.

 

I am reminded of one of the most revered accounts of a Mahatma's

life in Ishwara Darshan wherein Swami Tapovan-ji very lovignly and

with great kindness goes into details about his travels and

tribulations once he took up sannyasi - there is an especially

poignant section where he writes a letter to his birth-brother which

brings a tear to ones eye.

 

In my humble opinion, the Seers, esp of our time, are humoring us

(to a point) grahastas by very benevolently permitting us a "safe"

gateway to selfknowledge whilst remaining in grahstashrama. To think

that one has the mental attitude of a renunciate while holding on to

our relations, homes, banck accounts and the like is mere lipservide

99.999% of the time.

 

Why then do the Seers, these Oceans of mercy, not make this

crystalclear for less-than-qualified seekers like us?

 

Perhaps it is because to advice a person sannyasa prior to him

attaining adequate chittashuddhi and chittanaischalyam is

undoubtedly a recipe for failure. The cucumber as it ripens will

fall off the creeper - of its own volition but at the same time

naturally and effortlessly. Similarly, if ones own viveka is strong

enough to have fructified into an advanced stage of vairagyam and

consequently mumuksutvam these questions of "which ashrama is right

for me or which path should i choose?" will simply dissolve - as

Sankara describes his pupil so graphically in the Vivekachudamani -

"i am burning in the forestfire of samsara.."..how will such a

qualified pupil even entertain the thought of living in that very

forestfire for even a day longer.

 

Until that happens we should persist in our daily efforts and

prayers.

Hari Om

 

Shyam Subramanian

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk

wrote:

>

> Namaste.

>

> In view of the ongoing discussion on SannyAsa and

> Realisation, in another thread, I make bold to recall some

> extracts from the biography of Shri Ramananda Saraswati

> Swamigal (whose

>

>

> Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

>

> The contents page of my website has been updated now to include a

topic-wise list of every page of the site and a link to each. You

may want to have a look at

> http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/contents.html

>

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "subrahmanian_v" <subrahmanian_v

wrote:

>

>

> Namaste Sir,

>

..

>

> Sri Ramananda Saraswati Swamigal took sannyasa in his 54th year.

>

> I have heard of an interesting anecdote regarding him:

>

> Pranams,

> subbu

 

Namaste Subbuji,

 

Thank you for that very nice story. I don't know

why, but I always enjoy stories of this type.

 

Smiling pranams,

Durga

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "subrahmanian_v"

<subrahmanian_v wrote:

>

 

>

> Namaste Sir,

>

> The Swamigal referred to above had authored a book titled 'The

Hindu

> Ideal'. Is that book available now? I had long ago read it, but

it

> is not available for me.

>

> Sri Ramananda Saraswati Swamigal took sannyasa in his 54th year.

A

> book titled 'Sri Ramananda Charitam' in Tamil, is with me. It

> contains several details about the Swamigal. It is published by

Sri

> Chandrashekhara Bharati Brahmavidya Trust, 'Srikanta vilas', 5,

> Brindavan Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600004.

>

Namaste, Subbu-ji

 

I notice just now that I have not replied to your question in the

above mail. Yes, I have also seen that book in my younger days. I

don't know whether it is available now. The Brahmavidya Trust in

Brindavan Street would know. Mr. K. Narayanaswamy who runs the

Trust, would be able to help you. The address is the same.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk