Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara – A very humbling incident where Sri Periyava propagates the virtues of Shri Seshadhri Swamigal and asking Shri Bharaneedharan Mama if he will ever be like him. Also giving Moksha to a blessed Gurkha (watchman) without revealing his true self. Periyava, please give us Moksha as well. Adiyen’s Thaazhmaiyaana Praarthanai.

Thanks to our Sathsang seva member Shri M Venkataraman for the great translation. Ram Ram.

Sri Sri Sri Maha Periyavaa Mahimai   21 – 11 – 2006

Will I attain that status?

Sri Sri Sri Maha Periyavaa is none other than Baghavan himself. Though he had taken avatar with all glories of Sugabrahma rishi, he lived a humble life without revealing his Godliness. Following experience narrated by Sri Baranidharan is one such example of Periyavaa’s leelais.

This incident took place at the time when Dr Badrinath had operated on Maha Periyavaa for cataract and was travelling every day from Chennai to Chinna Kanchipuram to treat Periyavaa. One day one of the sevaks who do kaingaryam to Periyavaa was asked to go to Chennai and inform only Dr Badrinath and Baranidharan that Periyavaa will leave the marriage hall (in which he was staying) next morning. That same night Baranidharan reached Chinna Kanchipuram.

Early morning at 3.45 AM Periyavaa came out of the marriage hall. While the Sannadhi street was still asleep, Periyavaa silently started walking slowly. Including Baranidharan only four persons were following Periyavaa.

Periyavaa looked at the Gopuram of Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple and did namaskaram in the way sanyaasis do by kneeling down with dhandam touching the ground. The four persons who were following him had the rare opportunity to have darshan of Both Varadaraja Perumal and Lord Parameswara together.

In south maada street Gopala Dikshithar was waiting in front of Sri Kamakoti Seshadri Swamigal Nivas with purnakumbam to receive Periyavaa. Dr Badrinath and his wife also reached this place just when Periyavaa arrived. When Periyavaa accepted purnakumbam and was about to enter this house Dr Badrinath and Baranidharan did namskaram to Periyavaa. Maha Periyavaa asked both of them to come inside the house.

Baranidharan thought that it was normal for Periyavaa to call Dr Badrinath because he had performed cataract operation on Periyavaa. But he could not understand why Periyavaa called him also to Kanchipuram. Only when Periyavaa asked him to accompany him to visit the house in which Sri Seshadri swamigal had lived, Baranidharan realized Periyavaa’s kindness and blessings.

Often Periyavaa had been talking to Baranidharan about the greatness of Brahmajnani Sri Seshadri Swamigal and thereby kindled interest in Baranidharan. When Baranidharan was writing Arunachala Mahimai he did not know in which house Sri Seshadri Swamigal lived in Chinna Kanchipuram from 1870 to 1899. When Baranidharan asked Periyavaa he told him to search and find out.

As advised by Periyavaa, Baranidharan started his search for Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s house and narrowed down to 3 houses. When he was confused about which is the right house, the mason who constructed that house met Baranidharan and told him that the first son of the family who lived in the house became mad and ran away from home when he was 19 years old and thus confirmed that this is where Sri Seshadri Swamigal lived. Baranidharan realized that Periyavaa has been guiding him in doing Sri Seshadri Swamigal Kaingaryam.

Later when Periyavaa was staying at Kolaar Chatram he asked if we can buy the house in which Sri Seshadri Swamigal lived like the houses of Sangitha Mummurthis in Thiruvaiyar have been bought. As advised by Periyavaa a committee was formed which collected funds and bought the house in which Sri Seshadri Swamigal had lived.  Periyavaa asked Moovalur Gopala Dikshithar to occupy this house and do agnihothram and Ishti homam and commenced Swamigal Aaradhanai from the month of Maargazhi. When Periyavaa was at Thenambakkam Sivasthanam he drew a plan, on the ground, to convert the house into a Mandapam. Periyavaa formed a Trust to manage this Mandapam and started Seshadri Swamigal Jayanthi Utsavam on Hastha nakshatram in Thai month which is being celebrated every year. What Maha Periyavaa did to make the world recognise the greatness of another Mahaan i.e. Sri Seshadri Swamigal is one among thousands of such dharmic initiatives of Periyavaa which were being done without any kind of publicity.

On 2^nd Jan 1987, Baranidharan met Periyavaa to present to him the invitation for Sri Seshadri Swamigal Jayanthi as he used to do in the past. At that time Baranidharan told Periyavaa about his visit to Thiruvaiyar Thyagaraja Aaradhanai and how unjavirthi is performed there.

Periyavaa said “Organise unjavirthi for Sri Seshadri Swamigal Jayanthi also”. Baranidharan replied “I will organise from next year”. Periyavaa said “Why wait till next year? Start today”. Baranidharan said I don’t know how to organise unjavirthi.

Periyavaa said “What is the problem? Are you wondering where I will go to find a unjavirthi brahmanan? If you take this brahmanan with a headgear and a sombu (vessel) hanging in a rope from his shoulder and walk in the streets, ladies will offer rice. You two have to accept the rice and come back”.

Periyavaa explained a simple practical way to do unjavirthi without compromising on the traditions. When Baranidharan looked at Sri Sethuraman, the brahmanan pointed out by Periyavaa, he realised that Sri Sethuraman was tall and lean and with headgear looked exactly like Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal as we see him in pictures.

With anxiety Baranidharan asked Periyavaa “How will I organise for bhajans?”

Periyavaa said “You sing any naamaavali while clapping your hands and lead the way. Sethuraman can follow you. If one or two others come forward to join you take them along. Otherwise just the two of you go around the maada streets”. Thus Periyavaa made unjavirthi as simple as possible so that even ordinary people can perform the unjavirthi dharma.

Baranidharan asked Periyavaa “What do we sing?” as if he wants Periyavaa to give all answers.

Periyavaa pretended as if he is thinking for some time and said “Sing

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Kamakshi

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Kamakoti

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Seshadri.

Go out before it gets too hot under the sun”

By this incident Baranidharan realized how Periyavaa ensured that traditions are practiced in a simple manner. Later Baranidharan went to Thenambakkam and presented a picture of Sri Seshadri Swamigal to Periyavaa.

Periyavaa sat very close to the picture and observed it with concentration. As Sri Seshadri Swamigal appears in the picture, Periyavaa sat crossing his legs and with his left hand under his chin, with a smile and said “Is this how Swamigal used to sit?” At that moment Baranidharan realised that Sri Seshadri Swamigal and Maha Periyavaa are one and the same.

Though Periyavaa is Lord Parameswara himself, he lived a simple life without revealing this fact and asked Baranidharan following question to reconfirm the above truth.

“Will I become like Seshadri Swamigal? Will I attain that status?” You cannot find a better example to illustrate humility of Periyavaa who in spite of being Lord Umamaheswara himself, preaches & practices humility.

Sankarar who gives everything

A Gurkha, with concern in his face, came for darshan of Periyavaa. Maha Periyavaa enquired why he was looking concerned. The Gurkha said from the day he was born he had been facing difficulties only in life. Today due to some punyam he has got darshan of God himself. He requested Periyavaa to bless him so that he will have no more births.

Periyavaa did not bless him as he asked. He said “I don’t have the power to bless you with no more janmas. But I will pray to Lord Chandra Mouliswara, whom I worship daily, on your behalf”.

The Gurkha happily received prasadham and left. He kept saying that with Eswara anugraham I will not have any more janmas.

When Periyavaa said “After a very long time one person has come asking that I should not be born again”, others could see the ray of Gnana in his eyes.

When Sri Rama blessed Jataayu with moksham, he revealed his true Eswara swaroopam even though he has taken Rama avathara as human. Similarly those who were present during the above incident realised that though Periyavaa said he cannot bless Gurkha freedom from janma, his real nature of Sri Sankarar has blessed the Gurkha with freedom from births.

If we have unwavering bakthi and saranaagathi to Maha Periyavaa, who is full of compassion, there is no doubt that we will be blessed with all mangalams.

                    The stream of compassion will continue to flow….

You remove the hunger of those who sing your praise, You remove the disease of those who spread your light – Sundara Murthy Swamigal Devaram

Categories: Devotee Experiences

Tags: Periyava Mahimai