In the early part of 19th century, when the Hindu Bhoomi was under British rule, innumerable Tapasvi’s were born in the Holy Land of Bharatam to liberate her from the clutches of Slavery. The freedom movement of India is unique in the sense its independence was achieved due to Tapas and Sankalpam of great Mahans and ascetics. In the gallery of such stalwarts, a shining star is Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni. He was a great scholar, Tapasvi, Poet, Patriot, Upasaka, Guru, a Shishya and a Muni of Vedic yore. He was born this date (Nov 17, 1878) 146 years ago. His biography will provide a poignant reading. A Tamil Translation of his biography by Dr. Krupanandan (Ramanshramam Publication) was finished in one sitting, such was the arresting content of this book.
Sri Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni has a Mahaperiyava Connection also. This was published in this blog in 2019, which can be read below:
Kavyakantha காவ்ய கண்ட கணபதி முனிவர்
His Biography in English will be a good reading. I am not sure if a revised Edition has been published.
Nayana_-_Ganapati_Muni_Biography_-_Dr._G_Krishna
Mahatapasvi - Biography of Ganapati Muni - AV Ramana 2005
5 Responses
Hari Om, I read the PDF in one day. It is good
Dear Srinivasan Sir – thank you for sharing one of the best books written on someone who is called among the erudite mimamsa scholars as true Vedic Rishi. I urge all to read and hope that you derive atleast a drop of nectar that this Glorious Seer effortlessly gleaned for us by grace of Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi and the endless column of Agni our lord Arunachala.
MY APOLOGIES FOR a long response and also to ALL THOSE WHO GET HURT BY READING THIS.
Pleasure (Transient & in taking), Happiness (in sharing and slightly longer lasting), JOY (longest lasting and in giving) have antonyms (in pain, unhappiness, sorrow) but BLISS is state of being and everlasting without time limitation.
And human birth can take us to the state of BLISS even as we live our life and discharging all our duties in different roles we perform with mere karthruthvam and escaping the bondage of bhogruthvam.
Likewise, kunTam is blunt signifying ignorance (angyaana) . vikunTam is antonym representing sharpness signifying gyaana; the ultimate knowledge. In human life, the roles we embrace such as father, mother, son, daughter, employer , employee, husband, wife and so on create emotions and we swing in the pendulum of Raagha and dwesha (love and hate or pleasure or pain or whatever dualities). VaikunTam is a state where the pendulum action of kunTam and vikunTam stops and we get fixed in the state of ever lasting gyaana . And that state of vaikunTam is achievable in our life even as we live when we transcend the raagha ad dwesha and dualities that are created by actions performed in our respective roles..
I have great regards for all great MUNIs born in this land because there teachings take us closer to the state of BLISS/ VaikunTam Where we are not swung by the pendulum of dualities described above. In fact, such as state is achievable is the assurance by vEdha maata.
More so, Aadhi Sankara assures in his saadhana panchakam that this achievable by faith and constant practice of rooting ourselves to Suddha chaithanyam and tEjas
Bhagavan Ramana’s method of enquiring the root of each of our thought until we get in to the primordial consciousness (Suddha chaithanyam) and primordial life energy that drives universe (tEjas) and able to merge jEEVa chaithanyam with Suddha chaithanyam and our life energy Ojas with tEjas. Kavya kanTa Ganapathi was instrumental in compiling Bhagavan Raman’s teachings to reach us in a way we can assimilate. They are all great souls born with a purpose of uplifing jigyaasu (knowledge seekers) avataara purushas.
But to make them symbol of delivering Bharata maata from slavery seems irrational. If so who made bharata mata become a slave in the first place? Did Jesus who helped Anglo Saxons grab 50% land mass (Americas, Oz, Nz) ad colonize and misappropriate 90% natural resources made bharata mata a slave? Our slavery is to ignorance. Let us get delivered leveraging teachings of great masters.
Srinivasan Garu, English version link is not attached…..is it available?
THANKS FOR THE POST. SRI MAHA PERIAVA SARANAM. JAI MA BHARATH.