Epitome of love and compassion
SRIDHAR-CHAAMA
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The Paramacharya used his knowledge and wisdom as a tool to promote tolerance and universal brotherhood. His 112th jayanti was observed on May 24.
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VISIONARY: The Paramacharya on a padayatra (file photo).
Affectionately called `Mahaswamigal' and `Paramacharyal,' Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati radiated peace and bliss. His presence brought a soothing effect on the people around. He was proficient even in the toughest scriptures and yet gave his `anugraha bhashanam' or discourse in simple Tamil.
His knowledge of the Vedas and Sastras did not stand in his way of communicating with the common man. He travelled the length and breadth of the country, mostly on foot.
Acquiring mastery over varied fields through austerity and penance, he left no stone unturned in putting it to the use of mankind.
The sculptural reproduction of various nuances of dance form, on display at the Satara temple, bears testimony to the days of discussion and study sessions he had with the Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Subramaniam. Philosophers, professionals, politicians, intellectuals and scientists sought his guidance. A multi-linguistic he employed his skill to emphasise universal brotherhood and tolerance.
Once, a Muslim poet came to have his darshan and wanted to recite some verses he had composed in praise of the Mohammed and when the wish was granted, he chanted them and remarked later that he saw Allah himself sitting before him and listening.
Again, a former member of the U.S. consulate based at Chennai remarked that he saw the Christ in him. He appealed to the followers of all religions to be honest, faithful and diligent, as all religions preached kindness, compassion, love, charity and morality.
Compassionate
He was Compassion personified. More than two decades ago, when he was camping at Sholapur, a cow in the ashram was writhing in labour pain.
On coming to know of it, he entered into meditation and returned to his routine only after the calf was delivered safely. His casual remarks here and there worked wonders.
A young eye specialist came to the Acharya to seek his blessing on the eve of his foreign trip. The sage offered him his blessings but asked him whether people in his own motherland had no vision problems.
The former picked up the message and the result is a world-class eye care centre in Chennai.
Everyone close to him knows how pained he was when the Gulf war broke out and how he was frantically praying for goodwill to prevail upon the people concerned. In the `Pidi Arisi Thittam' he wanted every householder to set aside a fistful of rice and a humble coin (before taking their noon meal) that was collected later to be given among the poor and for mass feeding.
Today lakhs of devotees throng the foot of Arunachala hill of Thiruvannamalai on full moon nights.
Paramacharya was one among the earliest visionaries who made this happen. He directed journalist Paul Brunton when he came to see him, to Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi. When the math was half way through his birth centenary celebrations, Periyava attained mahasamadhi, in 1994.
His stunning grace
The Paramacharya has touched the lives of those who revere him in myriad ways. There are at least two instances in my case. That was soon after my marriage and I had gone to Kanchi in 1964 with my wife, her grand mother, my grand mother and her aunt. It was 11.30 in the morning and we were told that Paramacharya was in Kollachatram. We went there and as he was doing the Japam (one hour) we waited in the courtyard. After the Japam the Acharya came out, his face flushed. Never had I seen him like that.
He went straight into the open courtyard and what followed was something rarely witnessed. He moved, waving his "Dhandam" in the air. Was it a dance or was he fencing with an invisible foe?
The few of us watched in stunned silence. This went on for nearly five minutes at the end of which he slowly regained his composure and went inside.
After a few minutes, we were called in. And I saw the Acharya in his usual calm and composed state.
The second incident was more like a thriller. I was leaving for Chennai that night from Erode. My father-in-law came saying that a sanyasin from Bihar had come to his village. He did Kali Pooja and when the devotees fell at his feet he gave them all kinds of gifts like Kali Matha, Rudrakshams. He invariably commenced his puja after 8 p.m. and it continued well past midnight.
The person most affected was my father-in-law's grandson whose examinations were just a week away. The young boy was getting distracted by the rituals. My father-in-law was worried that he might forget the studies. In Chennai, after work was over, accompanied by my grandmother, I went to see Paramacharya who was camping in a temple in Puthur on way to Tirupati.
We explained the problem and the Paramacharya closed his eyes for two minutes and then said that everything had been taken care of. I came back to Chennai and left at once for the village.
My father-in-law told me that the sanyasin was an impostor and had been arrested by the police the previous evening. What time, I asked.
At 6 p.m. the previous evening, he replied. The same moment when he was contemplating our problem!
That was Paramacharya who lived like a God amongst us and who was an avatar of Lord Parameswara as the King of Kochi so rightly put it.
N. SUBRAHMANYAN
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