Sadashiva-Brahmendrar's Mahatmyam

January 6, 2008

Dear Members,

I had promised that I will introduce you all (or inform more) about one great soul. Last week we read stories of Mahaperiyawal of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. This posting is dedicated to Athma-gnAni Sri Sri Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra Swamigal, who lived in south India in the eighteenth century.

Born as Shivaramakrishna to a Telugu Brahmin vedic scholar Mokshainti Somasundara Avadhani in Madurai, he had his initial education from his father and later went to Tiruvishainallur for his advanced studies where he came into contact under masters like Sridhara Venkatesha Ayyaval, Bodhendra Saraswati and others.

Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy

The boy lost his father very early and had his siksha under the same Guru whom Ayyaval had his education. He joined the Gurukulam towards the end of schooling of Ayyaval. While Ayyaval attained great proficiency in sastras, giving bhakti the prime place, Sivaramakrishnan scaled great heights in Adyaatma Vidya and Yoga Saadhana. He could even, with yogic power, arrange for the darsan to his fellow students of the lord at distance places and bring them back home in a short time. His Guru came to know about his and advised him to not to waste his saadhana shakthi on such matters and to desist from the same in future. However, once at Gokulashtami time he was seen at the same time, in several different temples by his friends. When the friends met and exchanged their experiences, they were awestruck and amazed at the yogic power of Srivaramakrishnan.

His mother felt marriage would change his attitude towards life and got him married at the age of 16. Finding Grihastaaramam a hindrance to his aatmasaadhana, he took leave of his mother assuring her that he would return whenever she wanted him by her side just like Adishankaracharya

He came to Kanchipuram and after some time was initated into sanyasasrama by H.H.Sri Parama Sivendra Saraswati, the Peetadhipati of Kaamakoti Peetam and became "Sri Sadaasiva Brahmendra Saraswati". With his educational and yogic attainments he could defeat by arguments, all other scholars who came to meet the Achaarya.

Disguisted at this, the Acharya told "Sadasiva ! Won't you be silent? " Sadasiva took this as Mahopadaesa and he followed strict "Mouna Vrata" thereafter.

He left Kanchipuram on sanchara and crossed many milestones in Aatma Saadhana. He would enter in Samaadhi and would remain in the same state for many days. He spent most of his time in the dense groves on the banks of Kaaveri and Kollidam lying between Kodumudi (river name) in the west and Srirangam in the east and was most of the time in supreme state of oneness with the Almighty.

After several years, he came back to Tiruvisanallur to be by his mother's side at the time of her death. Later he left Tiruvisanallur and on sanchara reached Nerur, the surroundings of which were conducive and ideal for stay and saadhana, with the river flowing southwards.

It so happened, he entered into samaadhi on a sand dune when there was no water in the river. In course of time floods engulfed the entire place and he was also carried away by the flood and got submerged in the riverbed. After the floods subsided, the people could not find him nor were they able to trace his whereabouts. Nearby, when the riverbed was dug up for sand blood gushed out from the pit. The people were surprised and carefully dug further, only to find Sadasiva rise up on his legs and run away.

Unattached to body and worldly surroundings, he had given up kaashaya, Danda and Kamandalam and wandered as an Avadootha. During his sanchara in Pudukkottai State, the king, Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman, prayed to him for his blessigs and received them in abundance.

Once he came to see Ayyaval at Tiruvisanallur, Ayyaval enquired of his welfare to which Sadasiva brahmendra did not reply. Realising that the reason for this was the mounavaratam, Ayyaval suggested that he should translate his great experiences by singing Bhakti, Jana, Yoga Kirtanas and that there would not be any break in his vrata on this score.

Ayyaval

He readily responded to the suggestion of Ayyaval and the result was his famous song replete with advaitic principles. His other works include Atma Vidya Vilasa, Sivamaanasapuja, GururatnamaalikA, Siddhaantakalpavalli, Yogasudhakara,Brahmasutravritti etc.

On another occasion, as an Avadhuta, Sadasiva Brahmendra entered the Zenana of a Mohammedan chief naked. The chief was quite enraged at the sage. He cut off one of the arms of the Mahatma. Sadasiva Brahman walked away without uttering a word and without showing any sign of pain. The chief was greatly astonished at this strange condition of the sage. He ought that this man must be a Pir-Mohammed, a superhuman being. He repented much and followed the sage to apologize. Sadasiva never knew that his arm was cut off. When the chief narrated to the sage what had happened in the camp, Sadasiva excused the chief and simply touched his maimed arm. Sadasiva Brahmam had a fresh arm!

This incident itself proves that there is a sublime divine life independent of objects and the play of the mind and the senses. The sage was quite unconscious of the world. He did not feel a bit when his arm was cut off. He ought to have been absorbed in the Divine Consciousness, he ought to have been one with the Divine. Ordinary people yell out when there is even a pip-prick in their bodies.

Sadasiva Brahmendra attained mahasamaadhi on the Vaisakha Sukla Dasami with Makha star in the year 1755 A.D.

His most famous work Atmavidya Vilasa deals with the qualities of a yogi who has realised the supreme Truth, one who has attained "Brahma Gnana".I have uploaded the same in our files section.This work is a direct exposition of his own life, where he wandered along the banks of the river Cauvery, lost in contemplation of the divine, oblivious to the outside world.

Such was the intensity of his meditation. That he was not even conscious of his bodily needs. The ground was his bed, the sky his roof and the air was his garment. People labelled him insane and when this news reached his guru, the guru exclaimed "O lord, when will this sort of madness grip me?"!!

(Manasa-sancharare'...)

Sadashiva Brahmendra has composed songs like "Sarvam Brahmamayam", Pibhare Ramarasam, Manasa Sanchara Re etc which are still popular today, especially in Carnatic music. His Samadhi at Nerur near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu is a place of Pilgrimage for all devotees. Not beholden to anybody, free from all worldly bondages. He led life as he wished to, with nothing to fear. The Samadhi is also said to be very powerful for people who go there with sincere Bhakthi and who ask Him anything out of their heart as a need to be fulfilled.

Sri Nrsimha Bharathi VIII (1817-1879) of the Sringeri Saradha Peetam, during his tour of Tamil Nadu, chanced to savour the greatness of Brahmendral and his successor, Sri Satchidananda Sivabhinava Nrsimha Bharathi (1879-1912) made a seminal visit to the samadhi of the saint at Nerur. He composed 45 verses called `Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Sthavam.' The essence of advaita philosophy is contained in those 45 verses. The present pontiff, Sri Bharathi Teertha continues the tradition of offering worship at Nerur.

(The adhistAnam of sadAshiva brahmendrAl at the banks of Cauvery at nerUr(karUr district),tamizhnAdu)

Yours Yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli