My experience with Paramacharya of Kanchi

[Guest guest]

Namami Sankaraachaaryam, sarvalokaika Poojitham

 

With permission blessings and grace from HH Swamy Vijeyendra

Saraswathi garu of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Paramacharya and

miracles

 

My experience with Paramacharya of Kanchi

G. Subramanya Shastri

 

His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swami of

Kanchi Kamakoti Math turns centenarian this year.

Soon after He become the Peethadhipati, the Paramacharya dedicated

Himself to the promotion and propagation of the Vedas, revived many

Pathasalas and honoured Vedic scholars by providing them with

lifelong financial assistance. He also inspired an ever growing

interest in the young scholars in Veda Bashya by conducting

examinations in the subject and presenting purses to the successful

candidates.

 

Once His Holiness, while on a visit to our village, said to

me, " Having acquired erudition in the system of Nyaya, it would be

befitting for you to study, Advaita-Siddhi (the highest philosophical

treatise in Advaita) " and thus encouraged me in further studies.

His Holiness adhered to the strict canons laid for the Sanyasin

(recluse) in the matter for food, from the very moment of becoming an

ascetic. On the principle of mind and that in its turn leads to

memory power of ones own self. He shaped his food habits in the

strictest manner.

 

Keeping in mind the Sruti (scripture) injunction " anyo vaco vimuncata

atha muni " meaning " after accepting the ascetic order the Sanyasin

shall give up all mundane speech " , the Sage spoke rarely, that too a

few words, opting to remain silent most of the time.

As a result of the practice of self-discipline, His Holiness

possessed knowledge and the further and the power t bestow boons. I

can cite one or two instances.

 

The incident narrated below is said to have occurred in one of those

days in which His Holiness Himself performed the daily pooja (worship

of deities). Whenever His Holiness performed the worship there was o

stipulated time for ending the ritual. He used to be immersed in the

act for a very long time. All the while the devotees thronged around

the place of worship and waited patiently till the end of the pooja

in order to partake " teertha " (holy water sprinkled over the deities)

from His Holiness. On that eventful day, while the pooja was in

progress, suddenly a woman cried " Alas! My necklace is stolen! " His

Holiness heard the cries but calmly went through the proceedings. At

the end of the pooja , the giving away of the holy water commenced.

The devotees queuing up a line partook the holy water one by one. A

woman, too, came along the line near the alter to receive the water.

Then His Holiness ordered her " You are in possession of a necklace of

another woman. Give it back and take the teertha " . Hearing it the

woman turned pale and returned the jewel to its owner.

 

On another occasion while His Holiness was sojourning at some part of

the State of Maharashtra, a devotee came to have Darshan. The devotee

had earlier proposed to go back as soon as the Darshan was over and

hence came after reserving a ticket for his train journey by train.

After the darshan was over, he pleaded to take leave of His Holiness.

For reasons best known to His Holiness the devotee was denied

permission to leave. He was detained until the train in which he had

reserved ticket had departed. Then he was blessed and allowed to go.

Later it was learnt that the very train in which devotee was to

travel derailed resulting in a pathetic accident.

 

This is a striking example which demonstrates the prophetic vision of

His Holiness and His compassion towards devotees.

 

Now I shall relate my own experience I happened to encounter with His

Holiness some time back. From a month of June 1992 I became very weak

and fragile and was eventually unable even to attend my daily

curriculum, such as performing rituals, teaching student, etc. My

voice too became very frail. At that time I involved in the

completing of a short commentary (Based on the system of Indian Logic

on the Brahmasutra Bhashya of Adi Sankara. the work was being printed

by the conscientious efforts of Sri Vaidyanatha Iyer, under the

auspices of Sankara Bhaktha Jhana Sabha. I had gone to Kanchi with

the purpose of presenting that book to His Holiness and other erudite

scholars who had gathered there to take part in the Advaita Sabha

which had commenced from the 6th day of September, 1992. On that

particular day, I became extremely weary and my Vakyartha (oral

presentation of a certain topic in logic or philosophy, etc to a

group of learned scholars) was spoken in a feeble voice, which I

think could have hardly reached anybody's ear assembled there. In the

evening I was led to the soothing presence of His Holiness. I

presented the book to His Holiness and circumambulating and offering

obeisance took the holy feet of His Holiness and placed them,

reverentially on my head. I was graciously blessed by His Holiness

with an enchanting smile. All the while His Holiness Shri Sankara

Vijayendra Saraswathi Swami was also present there. He blessed me and

said, " After a long span of time, today we saw the smile of

Paramacharya. "

 

From the very next day onwards my health was restored to normality.

Now I am able to teach with an audible voice and also can walk short

distances.

 

SHREE CHANDRASEKARA GUROH SHATABDI ANTARA JEEVANE KARYO ANUGRAHA ITI

EVA SANKARAM PRARTHAYE SADA. I always pray, Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada

to bestow another hundred years of life on the preceptor, His

Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamiji.