I share with great sadness the passing away of Sri Swaminatha Athreyan, elder brother of Srirangam Sri. S.V. Radhakrishna Sastrigal and a great devotee of Maha Periyava, who accompanied Him on many of His Paadha Yathras. Athreya Maama was 94. His interview was posted in the blog and in spite of frail health and feeble vice, he spoke for more than 30 minutes about His anubhavam with Maha Periyava. After Mettur SwamigaL, Sri. Chandramouli Maama, Athreya Maama has joined Maha Periyava’s Divine Feet! Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!
Shared by M.Narayanan ((kahanam)
Categories: Announcements
I fully endorse the views of Sri R Nanjappa who has covered various facets of Sri Swaminatha Athreya Mama. Our friends should read one of his beautiful stories titled ‘Tukkiri Patti’ written based on actual incident. His narration takes the readers to totally different level of Bakthi Margam and embellishes the greatness of Rama Nama. Also one should not miss his narration about an incident with HH titled ‘Puli Mathulai’ which reiterates the greatness of HH. Beautiful experience.
Sri Athreya mama hails from a very noble and great family consisting of evolved souls. One should read his book on Samartha Ramadas. The rough materials for this book were originally with Sri Ra Ganapathi, who could not find time and so had requested Sri Athreya mama to pursue. It so happened through divine intervention that Sri Athreya mama could finish that elaborate book, out of devotion and self motivation at the old age, purely because of his deep and abiding faith by drawing tremendous energy and inspiration from Lord Rama and Sri Anjaneyaswami.
We intensely feel that his soul is safe, at Vaikunta or Kailasa because both are same.
He is my cousin sister’s father-in-law’s(Sri. Santhanarama Iyer’s brother). I feel very blessed to have met him . A very devoted family to the Kanchi Mutt.
Sri Swaminatha Atreyan was a great soul. He was a great writer, with a natural flair. He has translated Sri Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas into Tamil, with a beautiful biography of Tulsidas.He has also translated the monumental Hindi commentary on Bhagavad Gita by the great Jayadayal Goyandka of the famed Gita Press, Gorakhpur, into Tamil This makes thrilling reading, and never feels like a translation. He has written movingly on Sri Tyagaraja, explaining some of the kritis.. He has composed verses in Sanskrit on Sri Ramachandra, called Rama Madhuri., which reveal new bhavas and new angles. He has written two volumes on Hanuman, styled ‘Jaja Jaya Hanuman’ covering Hanuman’s story but relating many new real incidents and thrilling episodes from the lives of many devotees. bearing witness to the continuing presence of Lord Hanuman. He has also written a monumental work on the life of Samarth Ramdas, which is more than mere hagiography. It throws new light on many aspects of our social and political history of the times which reveals the great service rendered by Shivaji in the cause of preserving Hindu Dharma. He richly deserved the title ‘Sahiti Vallabha’ conferred on him.
The last two books were published by Mahaperiyaval Trust ,Bangalore but only one edition came out. Unfortunately they were full of printer’s devils. The book on the Gita is published by the Gita Press , Gorakhpur. The other books are published by Sri Rama Nama Bank, West Mambalam, Chennai. It is my earnest wish that all astikas should read all these books.That is the only way we can honour his memory. There is no doubt that he has reached the lotus feet of Mahaperiyava. I bow to his memory..
I learnt about the sad news from the Hindu of 20 th Dec. 2013. immediately I replayed Athreyan Maama’s interview from the blog archives which was recorded only a year back. His devotion to Maha Periyava was transparent. His interactions with Sri Embar Vijayaraghavachariar, the Harikatha Savant with respect to Saint Thiyagaraja’s Kritis and their hidden meanings and his experiences with Maha Periyava which came in Dharisana AnubhangkaL by Bhakhthas all came to mind. Particularly, there was an episode of a Brahmin, who came from a Vedic background and went astray and whom Maha Periyava identified and wanted to help, but his karma was too strong and he shunned the help. Many would not have known that Athreyan Maama once wrote many short stories for the great Manikodi journal, which had a brief and eventful modern Tamil literary career. The interview ended with Athreyan Maama talking about Esaiyanur Paatti’s death, wanting to talk more, but could not due to breathlessness. Another great and learned Soul, full of Maha Periyava Experiences, has reached His Lotus Feet! Let us all pray for Mahaans’ Blessings! Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!
We offer our humble pranams at the devine feet of Brahma Shri SwaminathaAtreya mama.May His Soul Reach Maha Periyava’s Lokam and Merge in that Maha Sagaram of Peace.Hara Hara Sankara Jaya Jaya Sankara..Kanchi Sankara Kama Koti Sankara.