Book Review: The Walking Shiva of Varanasi by Dr.V.V.B. Rama Rao

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The Walking Shiva of Varanasi by Dr.V.V.B. Rama Rao

 

Nowhere else in the world is renunciation held in such high esteem

as in India. It is but natural. We owe our allegiance to our

ancestors who were not Kings or barons but renouncing sages. This is

our heritage. They can be likened to the `gentle dew that falls

unheard and unseen at night, and brings into blossom the fairest of

roses.'

 

The sage, seer, yogi or mahatma has to be approached with a degree

of reverence, not with a meddling intellect. His miracles belong to

the realm of `adbhut' the wondrous and fabulous, extraordinary

events and acts. They strike people with wonder, which automatically

produces a joyous suspension of disbelief.

 

One such sage called Trailingaswami's life and preaching have been

portrayed pictoriously in the book `The walking Shiva of Varanasi'

written by Dr.V.V.B. Rama Rao. He says in the first chapter, `It is

well nigh impossible to call Trailingaswami either a saint, a

siddha, a yogi, a saadhaka, a baba, a paramahamsa, an avadhoota or

an avatar for he is all and not merely one among these many, Swami

Kritarthananda called him, `The Living Shiva of Varanasi " .

 

Trilingaswami was born to Nrusimhadhar and Vidyavati in 1607. He was

named as Siva Rama and perhaps also as Trailingadhar, because he was

born in Trilinga Desa (It is a region between three great Shrines of

Paramashiva. Srisailam, Drakshaaraamam and Kaleswaram) The

astrologers predicted that he would grow to be a great person. He

lived as a God Incarnate for the longest period of 280 years, next

only to the Methuselah of the Bible who was supposed to have lived

beyond nine hundred.

 

In due course of time he rose to be Trailinga Swami, Ganapatiswami,

Ramananda Saraswathi and Mouni Baba, performing various miracles all

through. He brought back to life many people, he saved a sinking

ship, he helped many suffering souls, fulfilled many desires, but

all the time he longed to be alone. He moved from place to place but

lived in Varanasi alone for one and a half centuries.

 

The swami was moving stark naked like any other avadhootaswami, who

rise above all dualities, blessed with an infinite tolerance and

equanimity, `samabhaavana'. Once a Maharastrian woman was casting a

look of disapproval at his nudity, day after day. She also told him

to his face that going about nude would not take anyone nearer to

God. During that time she was praying to Lord Viswanath to cure her

husband of ulcer. But one night the Lord told her in her dream that

only the naked Swami could cure her sick husband. The woman repented

and apologised to the swami. He gave her bhasma and she took the

dust of the swami's feet. When she applied the bhasma to her

husband's chest, he was cured in no time.

 

On another occasion the Raja of Ujjain came to pay a visit to the

Raja of Benares. When he was sailing in a boat he saw a man shining

gloriously on the water. He heard that he was Mouni Baba and that he

would walk on water, would be under water for any length of time and

would also appear or disappear at will at any place. The Raja wished

to talk to him and the Swami, as if knowing his mind, got into the

boat.

 

In the course of conversation, the Swami threw the sword of the king

into water. It had a precious stone on its hilt and it was gifted by

a British. The king was torn between anger and grief. He was ready

to punish the Swami. The swami put his hand in the water and picked

up two identical swords. The king could not identify his own. `When

one cannot even recognize what was one's own, why should one bother

about that trifle?' This admonition done by Swami brought a sea

change in the king.

 

The Swami's preaching was in the form of dictation to his trusted

disciple Shri Umacharan Mukhopadhyay.

 

'As the sun is the doer, kartha, for the earth, for jeevi, the

highest and the most important, the master is aatma. Owing to the

sun's rays alone, all living beings are able to carry on their

activities. In fact the sun does nothing. In the same way, aatma in

the human body, like the sun, shines as the karta. By its shining,

by its radiance, the senses go on performing their functions.'

 

This is just a glimpse into his teachings. He has dealt with topics

like Aatma bodha, Chitta - Shuddi, Dharma, Upaasana. Tanmayatwam etc

in a lucid style.

 

Reviewed by: Smt. Madduri Rajyasri

 

Name of the book - The walking shiva of Varanasi

Written by - Dr.V.V.B.Rama Rao

Published by - Richa Prakashan

Website - www.richaprakashan.com

price - INR 150.00 USD 4.00

For copies - D-36 south extension part-one

New Delhi - 110049 (India).

Tel +91 -11 - 24640153.