Saint Sketch -3- Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji-Part-1

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Radhe Krishna To All,

 

" God's grace always flows in abundance. It is up to you to be ready to receive

it "

 

--- SRI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIJI

 

----

Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal.

 

 

In this Kali Yuga, all the great saints who have incarnated in this holy

" Bharata " Desa have chiefly shown us one of the easiest paths to liberation

singing the Divine Names of God. The chief among them was the great saint from

South India by the name Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal.

 

All the Mahans who have ascended the Kanchi Kamaktoti Mutt have belonged to Adi

Sankara’s lineage, Bodendra Swamigal being one of the most prominent among

them.

 

More than 300 years ago, in the " Mandana Misra Agraharam " of Kanchipuram, Suguna

Devi, the wife of Sri Mohana Pandurangan gave birth to a handsome baby boy. They

named him Purushottaman.

 

The little boy grew up by leaps and bounds. Even in his childhood, he possessed

all the qualities of an " Avatara Purusha " . The parents were very happy about

this.

Sri Mohana Pandurangan worked in Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in the service of the

then Peetadhipati, Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal. One day, when the

father was leaving home for his work at the Mutt , Purushottaman cried adamantly

that he would accompany his father. No sooner had the Peetadhipati seen

Purushottaman’s radiant face and his lustrous form than he enquired as to

whose child it was. Sri Mohana Pandurangan at once said that the child belonged

to the Mutt! That was because the child was born after the couple was blessed by

the Guru.

 

Pleasantly surprised by the response, Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal

asked if he really meant it, or if he was just joking. The father said that he

was serious and subsequently, the couple happily gave away the child to the

Mutt.

 

The Guru arranged for the education of Purushottaman and left for Varanasi. The

child, along with another mate named Jnanasagaran, learnt the Vedas, Shastras,

Itihasas, Puranas and all the scriptures. After having mastered the scriptures,

both the students desired to have the darshan of their Guru, who was then in

Varanasi. The intensity of their desire made them undertake a journey to

Varanasi by foot. Thus both Jnanasagaran and Purushottaman started out from

Kanchi for Varanasi.

 

Jnanasagaran was an expert in " jyotisha " (astrology).From his astrological

calculations based on the time of departure, he predicted that they would not

reach Varanasi together and that one would die on the way. The two young boys

were grief stricken. Then and there they decided and took the vow that the one

who survived would, after the performance of last rites of the dead friend,

proceed to Varanasi, have darshan of the Guru and then give up his life by

falling into the Holy Ganga.

 

Just as foreseen, Jnanasagaran passed away en route. Purushottaman reached

Varanasi, had darshan of his Guru and paid his respects. Narrating the story

about his journey along with Jnansagaran, their vow and his friend’s death, he

said that he was going to jump into the Ganges and give up his life. His Master

stopped him and advised him that one had no right to commit suicide. This

earthly body is a gift of God and we do not have any right to destroy it

ourselves. By commiting suicide, one suffers unsaid tortures after death.

 

The Guru explained to Purushottaman in detail why he should not end his life.

But Purushottaman insisted in falling into the Holy Ganga and end his life as he

had given his word to his friend. Then his Guru said, ‘You have been born in

this world to liberate those millions of souls who are struggling in the ocean

called Samsara. Take up Sanyasa. According to Shastras, taking up Sanyasa is

akin to taking a new birth. Thus, both your promise and my wish shall be

fulfilled.

 

Purushottaman agreed. The next morning, on the banks of the Ganges in the holy

city of Varanasi, Purushottaman was accorded Sanyasa. He was given the name,

" Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati " . For a while, the Guru kept Sri Bodendra with

himself and gave him mantropadesa.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

Regards

 

Please Chant

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

and be happy

 

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