Chandrasekhanrendra Saraswati Swamigal
My Spiritual Experience with Paramacharya….Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (1894–1994), also known as the Sage of Kanchi or Mahaperiyava was the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
He travelled all over India, and spread his spiritual knowledge among the people. People belonged to other religions also became his devotees. Mahaperiyava dedicated his life in the worship of Kamakshi Amman in Shri Kamakshi Amman temple. He advised his followers and devotees to chant and write the holy name “RAMA”, in order to remove the bad karmas of the people. Devotees from all parts of India, were impressed by the way of his teachings and worshipped him. His speeches were aimed at invoking spirituality even among the common people.
He studied at kumbakonam and subsequently at Mahendramangalam. He was interested in various fields of art. He returned to Kumbakonam in 1914, and occupied his seat as an active sanyasi. He has attained Maha Samadhi during the year 1994, but his devotees strongly believe that still he is alive and answers to the prayers of his devotees from his Samadhi Shrine.
I (R.Harishankar) also had some of the spiritual experiences with Maha Periyavaa(Paramacharya), during my young age, and I was very much interested to share it with the readers.
MY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE WITH KANCHI PARAMACHARYA (THE HOLY JAGAD GURU)
I used to visit Kanchi Matam since from my childhood. During my visits, I used to witness Sri Maha Periyaval’s Pooja. I have also once seen him in the busy streets of Kanchipuram during 1980’s along with his Mutt staffs and devotees, where they were all chanted “HARA HARA SHANKARA JAYA JAYA SHANKARA” in a high pitch sound filled with full of divinity. While visiting the Kanchipuram Mutt, sometimes, we can also have the opportunity to observe him closely, and we could also share some few words with him, provided if we have the “GOOD GOLDEN LUCK”. I have also seen lot of devotees donating fruits, flowers, vegetables and of course costly things like gold and money. But Paramacharya considered everything, that is cheap things as well as rich things as alike. With a golden smile, he used to observe the things placed on the floor. Sometimes, he himself would distribute fruits and eatables like nuts and sweets to the gathered devotees from his golden hands.
One day afternoon, large number of Harijans were arrived at the gate of the Mutt, with the hope of getting Periyaval’s Darshanam and Prasadham. At that time, Swamigal had just finished his short and simple lunch and took rest for some time. But when he came to know about the devotee’s arrival, he came out and with a divine smile, he blessed them all, and also asked the Mutt’s authorities to give Prasadam to all, and then he returned to his place.
On one fine day during the year 1987, when I was waiting for my tenth standard results, I was very much anxious to know about my results, and I kept praying to Paramacharya for hours together, for securing good marks in exams. My prayers were answered and I passed in First Class. I expressed my desire to my parents to visit Kanchipuram in order to have a darshan of Paramacharya, since I want to thank him personally. After a few months, my family visited Kanchipuram and I had nice darshan of Paramacharya. He smiled at me and nodded his head, which means, “DID YOUR PRAYER GOT ANSWERED”? On seeing that, joyful tears began to flow from my eyes and I also happily nodded my head. He gave some fruits to my parents and blessed my entire family. I still remember his eyes which mercifully seen me and shined like our divine goddess Ma Kanchi Kamakshi Amman’s eyes.
“OM SRI MAHA PERIYAVAA SARANAM”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR