'BHAGAWÃN's AKSHARAMANAMÃLAI' (3) R.R. Sabha, Chennai 16th October -- 21st Ocotber, 1995 & 24-25th October, 1995 Sri Swamiji has been rendering ‘Upanyãs’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here. There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãs’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamiji.

“ It is absolutely necessary for every man to take refuge in a Guru. Who could that Guru be? How do we identify the Guru? “

- Sri Swamiji

Sri Swamiji,

“ While still a child, Seshãdri lost his father. He had only his mother. The mother, desirous of getting Seshãdri married, took his horoscope to an astrologer. Reading the horoscope the astrologer pronounced that he was not destined for marriage! The horoscope predicted only an ascetic life for the boy. His mother, therefore, began to follow the ascetic way of life - eating once a day, performing Nãmasankirtan, playing the Veena and performing Tulasi puja. She began to lead a dispassionate life.

This young boy was hardly found to be at home. He spent the nights doing japa and dhyãna in the burial ground. The last moment in the life of the mother arrived. She called the son to her side and said to him, "It is said - 'Smaranena Mukti Arunãchalam'. It is said that one who thinks of 'Arunãchala' when he/she breathes his/her last has no more birth. So, please remind me even if I happen to forget. Keep chanting 'Arunãchalam' 'Arunãchalam' 'Arunãchalam' in my ears." The mother passed away contemplating on the sloka of Adi Sankara, "Satsangatve Nissangatvam'.

On being initiated thus by the mother with the Divine Name 'Arunãchala', the desire to visit 'Arunãchala' took hold of Seshãdri. He drew a small picture of the Arunãchala Hill from the vision he had had in his dhyãna and worshipped it daily. He would go into his room early in the morning and shut the door. It would take 2 or 3 hours for the door to open. He never stayed much at home. He wandered around on the streets. (There is even a 'charitra' that Sri Seshãdri Swãmi had taken 'sanyãsa' from Sri Bãlãji Swãmi. However, we do not get to see any photograph of Seshãdri Swãmi with 'danda' (the ascetic staff) and 'kamandalu' (water pot of an ascetic). Instead, we get to see him only as 'adhiyãshrami' (one whose state is beyond the prescribed 'ãsramas') in the state of an 'avadhoota'.

The day of the death anniversary of his father arrived.
His uncle and aunt said to him, "Seshãdri! Tomorrow is your father's 'shrãrdha' (death anniversary). Please return home early. You must bathe early. The priests will be here tomorrow."
Seshãdri Swãmi explained, "I am a 'Naishtiga Brahmachãri' (one who is a strict bachelor and has full control over his senses). These rules and injunctions do not apply to me."
Yet, they tried to force him to do as they deemed it fit.

Fearing that the young boy might leave home for doing japa, dhyãna, they locked him up in a room. They decided to open the door only after the arrival of the priests, the next morning. Around 9 or 10 a.m. when they opened the door the boy was not to be found! Even at that young age of 13 years, the Swãmi had the yoga 'siddhi' (supernatural power) to walk out invisibly! He was such a Mahãtma.

Where did he go? He had reached Arunãchala!
'Jnãna thapodanarai vã endru azhaikum malaiyãm, Arunãchalam' - this Hill does not let go the one who comes here as a Jnãni
This is evident from the fact that our Bhagavãn (Sri Ramana Maharshi) did not leave Arunãchalam, Seshãdri Swãmi did not leave Arunãchalam and innumerable other Mahatmãs remained at Arunãchalam captivated by it. Such a Kshetra is this Arunãchalam.

The young Seshãdri Swãmi roamed about in Tiruvannãmalai. His power was such that when he clapped his hands thousands of 'Garuda' birds (eagles) would come; when he clapped again thousands of peacocks would come from nowhere. Is not the state of a Jnãni described as that of one who is mad, that of a ghost? True to this description, Seshãdri Swãmi roamed about the streets singing and speaking to himself. He hated crowd. He was totally dispassionate. He moved around in places which were not visited by people. "

GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
GOVINDA! GOVINDA!”

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

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