Dr Sesha Sai's Believe it or Not -18

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Dr Sesha Sai’s believe it or not – series 18 (Factual Renunciation)

 

In the recent past I could not write this particular series due to many

reasons. It is my desire to bring some little information to you this time

keeping in view of the forthcoming Guru Poornima. I am totally afraid that I

will not be able to complete this in one page as per my principle and readers

may not mistake me for taking this onto two pages.

 

These days, may be on account of some psychological gap in our minds, most of

us started accepting a saffron wearing person as a saint and started searching

for some unknown peace. You all know that our weakness is somebody’s strength.

Probably that is the reason many persons have come to limelight wearing saffron

clothes. These days I also noticed a kind of allergy in some people, perhaps on

seeing the ongoing trend, to accept this saffron cloth, which is considered as

most sacred in ancient India. The saffron cloth and renunciation are

interlinked. Saffron cloths are respected by most of the Hindus for the simple

reason, it is considered as a symbol of total and factual renunciation.

 

Furthermore it is also a fact that most of the saffron wearers of ancient

India could able to provide their branches of descendent. Every family in India

is in a position to tell about their father, grandfather and great father and it

is an inbuilt system. Similarly, most of the saffron wearers were in a position

to tell us their Guru, Parama Guru and Parameshti Guru thus giving us a scope

for analyzing the degree of their detachment and their history. The

peetadhipatis never used to move out of their places excepting in exceptional

conditions and their religious knowledge and guidance was given to public during

a four month time called as “Chaturmaasa Deeksha”, in a year. In other words,

they were asked to stay at a certain place of their choice every year that too

during rainy season, perhaps this restriction was imposed with a view that their

mobility to different places would be difficult in those periods of time during

rainy season.

 

They were going for Biksha – asking for food - everyday to a particular

family and they never used to apply soap, never take hot water bath, never use

comfortable beds for their rest, never wear any ornaments, in other words, they

used remain detached from worldly affairs. It is factually they, who brought

laurels to the saffron clothing due to their total and factual renunciation.

 

My Guruji HH Shri Shri Shri Ganesananda Bharathi Mahaswamy was served with

food (Biksha) and in one of the prime food items made up of bitter gourd, salt

and other material was not put and it was served like that. As per the

prevailing custom, one cannot taste the food before serving to a Yeti invited

for biksha in the house and as such the housewife served it without tasting it

in advance. The housewife casually asked Guruji about the preparation of the

items and Guruji said “Brahmandam” in other words it is known as “excellent”.

Later when she started serving food to others, people almost cried and said the

preparation was quite bitter.

 

She asked Guruji as to how he could take the food without any expression or

whatsoever; Guruji smilingly said that he was not aware of all that and he

further said that the food was excellent.

 

What I desire to mention here that an actual Yeti – a Sanyasi – a Bikshu – a

Sage, considers all as the Holy creation of the Lord and in such a condition he

shall remain as real sage, who crosses the “taste” barriers. It is actual and

true renunciation.

 

I met a number of sages in Himalayan ranges and particularly in Naimisharanya

on specific days and if any one believes this, anyone can pay a visit to Holy

Naimisharanya on Phalguna Sukla Navami – the ninth bright day of Phalguna Month

which normally falls during February every year, where hundreds and thousands of

sadhus/sages from all over India gather to pay respects to the holy land of

Bhagavan Veda Vyas. They walk all the way to this Holy place from different

parts of India. One can see, Rudravart, Swayambuva Manu final appearance place,

Chakranemi (a pond, the depth of which could not be ascertained by some British

research scholars). They do not bother about the roof, shelter, food, weather,

clothing or any such basic needs. They do not ask for anything and they gladly

accept anything given to them. I am really afraid as a small human being as to

how they prefer living like that and every visitor has to salute their

greatness. Naimisharanya – an ancient forest of India, well known for the

knowledge treasures is situated in Sitapur District of UP.

 

One can also visit Raman Reti near Mathura in UP where hundreds of Sadhus stay

to quench their thirstiness of Divine experiences. They live away from all

worldly comforts of this material world.

 

One can also visit Brindavan at Mantralayam in Kurnool District of Andhra

Pradesh, where we find the Samadhi (Brindavan)-(the body buried place) of HH

Shri Raghavendra Swamiji somewhere near 400 years plus ago. The Government

Gazette publication of erstwhile British Government narrates that HH Shri

Swamiji talked to Mr. Thomas Manro, the then Collector of the District

representing the British Government, in English coming out of the Samadhi in his

human form. If we do not believe in our “greatness” and at least let us,

believe the British Gazette.

 

HH Jagadguru Shri Paramacharya of Kanchi Mutt toured almost all places in

India by “foot” without taking any assistance and he spoke to the visitors in

different foreign languages and record speaks that he never moved out of India,

nor undergone any language courses. Don’t believe? – Please visit Kanchi in

Tamilnadu for further details.

 

It is quite difficult for us to judge the greatness of them or identify them

truly, and for this material world they are visible like some common ordinary

ignorable sadhus or persons. It is for us to judge them to realize the true

renounced spirits in them; I repeat that we have to judge them.

 

We are almost caught in an atmosphere where we find the peethadhipatis,

baabas, and swamis in a totally sophisticated set up where we judge the

greatness basing on their following and the time taken for taking their darshan;

the amount needed for paada pooja and so on. On the pretext of establishing

dharmic world, I have seen many of them touring the entire world in a class

manner which a true renounced are not expected.

 

But the fact remains a true sage in a renounced stage can never be found in

such a great atmosphere, neither they undertake pleasure travel abroad, and

unfortunately we try to live in an illusion state ignoring the state of factual

renunciation. Are we sailing in proper direction in locating the cream of

spiritual excellencies and Factual masters who can lead us to expected

destinations or are we contributing to the rich kingdoms of a few individuals in

the name of Swamijis and committing a great sin? Can only a saffron cloth be

our true guide?--------- it is for us all to physically verify this and judge

ourselves. Believe it, there are excellent masters with traditional background

and backed by History.

 

Yours affly HARA HARA MAHADEVA DR P V SESHA SAI ASWAMEHDYAAJI

 

Dr P V Sesha Sai Aswamedhayaaji

235, Federal Row Dr # 201, Collierville, TN 38017 Phone 901 592 9130

e mail shodasisai, web site www.ashwamedhayaagam.org

23rd July 2007