Great Gurus of India - SESHATHRI SWAMIGAL

SESHATHRI SWAMIGAL

Shri Manicka Swamy was an ardent devotee of Avathar Sri Seshadri Swamigal. He was spiritually in an advanced stage. So Swami used to warn him not to sleep.

One night Manicka Swamy was having a Sathsang with Avathar Sri Seshadri Swamigal in front of Shri Kambathu Ilayanar shrine of Shri Arunachaleshwar Temple. Swami was scattering his mysterious words from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the company of Manicka Swamy. As it was high time for sleep, without bothering that he was sitting with Swami, Manicka Swamy was over powered by sleepy feelings and laid himself down to sleep for five minutes.

Seeing that Swami’s verbal warnings not to sleep did not succeed, Swami thought of another strategy, through which he induced in him a nightmarish dream as described here:

Riding a huge buffalo, a dark and ugly looking Yama (Lord of Death) with five of his minions standing by, commanded:

“Tie a rope round the necks of these five sinners and drag them away.”

Accordingly, the minions of Lord Yama were bringing those persons. Then turning to Manicka Swamy, Yama ordered: “Pick up this sleepy fellow also and drag him along.” The messengers of Lord of Death rushed to Manicka Swamy as if hunting for him. He was crying in terror when Swami reached there and He begged Yama from their clutches. Swami told Yama not to touch Manicka Swamy who was freed from the hands of the Death God who dragged away the other sinners. Having dreamt the above terrifying dream, Manicka Swamy came out of his dream.

Manicka Swamy was still trembling with fear when he prostrated before Swami who asked, “Did not Yama catch you when he was taking five others? And were you not terrified?” Manickam was to overcome with fright to reply. Then Swami said, “That was Yama, a big thief. Sleep is Yama. You should not sleep when you are in the advanced stage of spiritual path. And if you do, Yama will seize you.”

After some time Swami asked him to sleep. Manickam said he would not sleep as per His warning. Swami agreed and instructed, “If you think of Me and apply the sacred ash before sleeping. Yama will not catch you.”

Thus Avathar Sri Seshadri Swamigal used that strategy of Swapna Drishti to wean His disciple.

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With the pictures of Arunachala, Rama and Kamakshi his worship was going strong. He had no sleep and no appetite. He was seen in Chakrath-Azhwar and Kamakshi temples for several hours chanting mantras, slokas, etc. His rigorous and exacting religious practices were viewed with concern by his foster-parents who were taking care of him. He got immersed in Sri Kamakshi’s divine form and regarded himself as Goddess Parvathi (Sakthi aspect of Brahmam). He began doing his meditations in Rudrabhoomi (cremation ground) which was resented and questioned by his people. He was wandering in the streets of Kanchipuram, when he met a Gouda Sanyasi, Sri Balaji Paramahamsa, who finding him worthy and fit, gave him sanyasa (the fourth stage of asrama in one’s life). On the due date, Seshadri’s father’s annual ceremony was performed. To give him his father’s blessings, he was brought home forcibly and kept locked in a room. At a stage, when the room was opened his relatives noticed that Séshadri had disappeared from the locked room and then only realised his greatness and attainment. He was 19 years of age then. After sometime he was noticed in the temple precincts of Sri Mukteswara at Kaveripakkam, 20 miles away from Kanchipuram. One day, in the temple, a big serpent came out; Séshadri beckoned it and it came and coiled over his body and held its hood over his head. Those who witnessed were awe-struck. Seshadri now “Seshadri Swami” was unperturbed. His act showed that all creations of Almighty are alike and is all pervasive.

He was a Jivan-mukta (a realised soul while in body). He did not have body-consciousness and was in ever communion with his Atman (Soul). He saw atman in everything-animate and inanimate. He was seen going round and round a stone pillar and doing pranams (offering his worship) and saying that he was seeing God in it. Similarly he used to worship animals-buffalo, donkeys–seeing God in them. Sometimes he would embrace people on the road including ladies and say that he saw para-sakthi (mother aspect of Brahmam) in them. He did not have any fixed abode. He was always on the move. He will be seen at many places within a few minutes. He will be in rags and dirty clothes. He will enter any shop on the roads and pull out anything from them. The shopkeepers revered him and considered his visit and touch as a great blessing. If anyone gives him a new cloth, he will wear it for a while and give it to someone.

He was a saint of advanced spirituality. He possessed supernal powers and Godly possession. There was total abdication. He was in Swastik Asana, with his ankles crossed and the rest of his body poised over and out of contact with the ground.

Born: 22 Jan 1870

Left the body abode: Jan 4, 1929

Birth Place: Thondai Mandalam, Kanchipuram

Known as: Saint with a golden hand, Sanchara-Dakshinamurthi (God as man on the move).

Known for: Mano-nasam (control of mind), Swastik Asana, with his ankles crossed and the rest of his body poised over and out of contact with the ground.

Guru: Margathammal,(Mother taught him devotional songs)

Quote: I will perform the task of wiping out ignorance and instilling spiritual enlightenment in all those who seek refuge in me

Website: www.swamigal.com

Ashram: Seshadri Swamigal ashram, Tiruvannamalai