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ParamaGuru Sri Sri Judge Swamigal Sri Sri Swami Santhananda SathGuru Chenthamangalam Sri Sri Avadhutha Maha Purushar Life of Swami Santhananda Search for the Guru Brahmachari Subrahmanyam began his wanderings. He visited many places - Agastya hills, Courtalam, Tiruchendur, Tirupati, Tirunelveli, Palani, to name a few-- and did penance there. Sometimes he was mistaken for a child lifter and beaten or handed over to the police. As he kept the vow of silence, he was kept in custody for some days before he was found innocent and released. Subrahmanyam travelled everywhere on foot and survived on alms. He did penance at many sacred places. Then he commenced his

pilgrimage to North India. He visited Badrinath, Kedarnath, Nepal and Rishikesh. He stayed for some time in Rishikesh and served Swami Sivananda. Here was an ideal disciple whom many preceptors longed to adopt. But Subrahmanyam was searching for some other type of Guru. He searched everywhere - in forests and mountains, on river banks and in temples. Once in the Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli, when he went on dashing his head against the floor, as a part of his penance, he had the vision of an Avadhuta commanding him to follow. As soon as he got up, the vision disappeared. But he often heard the echo of the command. He was searching for only that particular Avadhuta so as to become his disciple. On the Girnar Hill, Gujarat, there is a holy place known as Sri Datta Paduka Peetham. It is a favourite

haunt of ascetics. Tradition is that only after initiation, Avadhutas used to visit there. Subrahmanyam reached there even before his initiation. It is an arduous task to climb the hill and reach its top. The place was surrounded by dense forests and was the habitat of wild animals. One had to climb hundreds of steps to reach the top. Subrahmanyam was indisposed and weak.An unknown Sadhu appeared and said. " Why do you hesitate? Datta Guru is always with you. You swallow this pill and ascend the hill". He vanished. Who was he, whence he came, and why? Nobody knew. Subrahmanyam swallowed the pill. He felt rejuvenated and light. His mind became alert and his body strong. He climbed the hill and had the Darshan of Datta Paduka. He heard a voice commanding him to go to Chendhamangalam (Salem district) where a Guru was waiting. One day he reached Chendhamangalam and had the Darshan of

Swami Swayamprakasaji. At once he realized that the Avadhuta he saw in a vision at Tirunelveli was none other than Swamiji and requested that he be accepted as a disciple. Swamiji gave his consent. He admitted Subrahmanyam to the Avadhuta order and gave him a new name Santhananda. Avadhutas were not expected to wear clothes. But the ignorant people do not understand the significance of nirvana. Therefore an exception was made in the case of Santhanandaji and he was permitted to wear an ochre robe. Independence movement and

prison It was the time of our freedom struggle. Gandhiji had appeared on the scene. Everybody came under his spell. Subrahmanyam's idealism responded to the call of the Mahatma. He plunged into constructive activities. Gandhiji had drawn up an 18-point work list, which was designed to take care of all rural needs and to make the countryside prosperous and happy. Subrahmanyam also concentrated his activities on village uplift and amelioration of the lot of the poor. And he got the reward-imprisonment, only reward the patriots all over the world get. By a strange coincidence he was sent to Alipur prison. This prison had played a special role in the case of Aurobindo. It is here that the revolutionary was transformed into a mystic. In the prison he saw in a vision the spirit of God all around him in the

prison compound and later again in the court and heard a definite message. Stone walls do not a prison makeNor iron bars a cage;Minds innocent and quiet takeThat for a hermitage Prison became a hall of meditation for Lokamanya Tilak. Mahatma Gandhi and our Subrahmanyam. Here he studied the teachings of Bagavan Sri Ramakrishna and the writings of Swami Vivekananda deeply. When he came out of the prison, he was no longer the same. This devotee of the Mother country became the devotee of the Mother Goddess. From Alipur he went direct to Madurai. He prayed to Goddess Meenakshi to show him the further course of action. Then he approached Mayandi Yogi, who was extremely happy that notwithstanding an eventful

life, Subrahmanyam did not fail to turn up when the hour arrived. He taught the youth the art of meditation and explained the monosyllabic mantra of Goddess Bhuvaneswari. He asked him to chant it unceasingly so that he could have mastery over the senses. He further advised him to remain silent, to subsist on alms, and also not to stay at a place for long. Pudukkottai Adhishtanam Next Swamiji explained the mission of Santanandaji. He told his disciple: " You have learnt the Vedas. You excel in the art of meditation. You have travelled widely and are experienced. I wish to engage you in a special work. You take charge of the Pudukkottai Adhishtanam of Judge Swamiji, my Guru. Maintain it and make it a place of pilgrimage. For one year practise the vow of silence.

Subsist on alms. Stay under tress. Don't ask for anything from anyone. Ask only the spirit of Judge Swamiji to fulfil your needs. You will succeed." Santanandaji arrived at Pudukkottai. The. Adhishtanam was in the midst of a grove of neem trees. There was a small tower above the tomb. Santanandaji scrupulously followed his Guru's command. He did not talk to anybody. He stayed near the Adhishtanam day and night. Whenever hungry, he simply ate the neem leaves. In sun and rain he took shelter under a tree. Devotees started to trickle in. They were impressed by the austerity of the young Swami. They not only gave him food but also built a small room close to the Adhishtanam. A year was over. The vow of silence too was

fulfilled. Swamiji explained to the devotees the reason for his arrival and stay. Advocate Sri P. Balasubrahmanya Sastri, the owner of the land, made a deed of gift and relinquished his right over the land where the crypt existed. Then Swamiji arranged for a huge painting of Bhuvaneswari and continued his mediation in its presence. Next, the idols of Ganapathi and Karthikeya were installed on either side of Adhishtanam. Swayamprakasha Swamiji had earlier installed a Linga and an image of Dattatreya in the Adhishtanam. When he expired Santanandaji took care of his Adhishtanam in Sendamangalam also. He got the cave where his Guru lived repaired. The most important step he took was the

Installation of the idol of Bhuvaneswari. None can describe the transcendental beauty of this idol. Two of Her hands carry the noose and hook and another two assure protection and give boon respectively. The divine face glows with angelic beauty and the eyes are full of compassion. The smile comforts the afflicted. She is the substance of the Gayatri mantra and the Parasakthi of the Kenopanishad. Buildings grew. Devotees thronged to the Adhishtanam. Houses were built. The lonely area came to be called Sri Bhuvaneswari Nagar. In the Adhishtanam pujas are not performed for the sake of or on behalf of individuals, but for the welfare of the world. After the installation of the idol of the Goddess Swamiji started a new programme of performing Yagnas each year. Hundreds of devotees from far and near witness

them. Swamiji has unshakeable faith in Yagnas. He believes that they will make India powerful and prosperous. The angels become happy whenever a Yagna is performed. In the Vedas we read: Sacrifice (Yagna) is the foremost of our duties. It is the mainstay of the world. It bestows blessings on all things. It is the boat to cross the ocean and live well. Only through it the Gods attained the heaven. Through it deliverance is afforded.In the Gita (3: 10) we find the following idea: In the beginning while creating the human beings, God instituted the sacrifice and said, "May this grant your desire like Kamadhenu and may you grow with its help:" The angels accept only the food offered in a sacrifice. When they are satisfied they send rain. As a result there will be no scarcity of water and people reap a rich harvest. This process has been mentioned in the Gita (3: 14). Lord Krishna

declares that I am Yagna (Gita 14: 16). Elders believe that Pudukkottai, which was an arid zone two decades ago, has become fertile because of heavy rains coaxed by these Yagnas. During the Yagnas reputed scholars of the Vedas and eminent musicians arrive at Pudukkottai and are honoured and blessed by Swamiji. Every year coinciding with the Yagna, Swamiji releases a new book. In this way many spiritual works have been published for the upliftment of the people. The life story of Swamiji has been taken from the book Adhishtanam and three Avadhutha Saints written in Tamil by Kavithamani A.V. Krishnaswami Reddiar and translated into English by Dr. N.Sreedfharan. This book was published in 1982. The life of Swamiji in Salem and last in Chennai has not been written. An attempt will be made later to present this most important phase in a nut shell. Pudukkottai Adhishtanam: Important Events The Adhishtanam at Pudukkottai was established as the samadhi of Judge Swamigal. Prathishtas and Kumbabhishekams 31/05/1936 - Maha Kumbhabishekam conducted by Sri Sathguru Swayamprakasa Brahmendra Saraswath Avadhuta Swamigal. 05/05/1956 - Maha Kumbhabishekam conducted by Sri Sathguru Santhananda Swamigal.Kumbhabishekam followed by Nithya Chandi Homam for 49 days.06/06/1962 - Maha Kumbhabishekam. Sri Jagajjananiya Matha Bhuvaneshwari shila vigraha prathishta 30/05/1966- SriChakra Mahameru Prathista followed by 48 days of Nithya Chandi Homam. Satha Chandi Homam on the concluding day.31/05/1974 - Establishment of the Yajurveda Patasaala. 11/11/1989 - Sri AshtadasaBhuja Mahalakshmi Durga (10 ft) shila vigraha prathishta Homams 15/08/1957 - Shotasa dhravya Sri Vallaba Ganapathi laksha Homam. 20/05/1958 - Sri Maha Rudra Maha Maha mantra Raja japa Homam.20/05/1959 -Sri Navagraha Laksha Homam.04/05/1960 - Sri Maha Ganapathi Homam. Navagraha Homam. Sri Suktha Homam. Avahanthi Homam. Sri Rudraikatha Sani Homam.26/05/1961 - Sri Maha Ganapathi Homam. Navagraha Homam. Sri Suktha Homam. AvahanthiHomam. Sri Rudraikatha Sani Homam.48 days Nithya Chandi Homam and Satha Chandi Homam on the concluding day.25/05/1963 to 02/06/1963 - Sri Sahasra Chandi Maha Yagnam.22/05/1963 -Sri Suktha Mantra samputitha Sri Vallaba MahaGanapati Laksha Homam. 05/06/1965 tto 08/06/1965 - Sri Matha Bhuvaneshwari Maha mantra Koti Tila homam 24/02/1967 to 06/06/1967 (1000 days)- Koti Archana for Matha Bhuvaneshwari and Sri Chakra purna Maha Meru.

Satha Laksha Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Homam in the last 10 days. 04/06/1968 to 06/06/1968 Sri Mahasudharshna mahamanthra Laksha homam. 27/05/1969 - Sri santhi Durga Sulini maha Manthra Laksha Homam. 17/05/1970 - Sri Mahalakshmi Mahamantra Laksha homam.04/06/1971 to 23/07/1971 - 28 daays Sri Sarabhesheara maha mantra Laksha Homam.26/04/1972 to 23/05/1972 - 28 days Sri Adharvana Bhadrakali Mahamantra Laksha Homam.13/05/1973 to 09/06/1973 - 28 days Sri Ugra Narasimha Maha mantra Rajalavidraya Homam04/05/1974 to 31/05/1974 - 28 days Sri Adharvana Rig samputitha Sri Maha Varahi Maha mantra Laksha Homam. The list

of homams is not complete. Note: Laksha - 100,000 Koti- 10 million Yours Yogically, Shreeram Balijepalli

 

 

 

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