Life of Sri Maruthanallur Sadguru Swamigal !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

The trinities of Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyavargal and Maruthanallur Sri Sagduru Swamigal publicized that Nama Sankeerthana is the simplest form of worship of Lord,  attain salvation in this Kaliyuga.  Sri Sadguru Swamigal/Venkataraman was born in the year 1777 in a Telegu Brahmin family in Thiruvisainallur.  His father had great interests and profound knowledge in sacred scriptures and Veda Sastra.  Venkataraman learned Veda Sastras under the guidance of his father; he also had the opportunity to learn the sacred scriptures and life of holy men and saints, especially the great epic Srimad Ramayana.  He cultivated the habit of chanting Rama Nama, immersed in the nectar like Rama Kavya, treated himself as Lord Rama.   He continued to live in Thiruvisainallur, the places of holy men and saints.

 

Venkataraman followed the path of his father; he had chosen performance of Vedic rituals and Shraddha as livelihood.  Once, he had to perform a Shraddha ritual in a house nearby village.  He started chanting Rama Nama in the early morning hours and it took him long hours to complete in the evening.  Instantly he remembered the Shraddha ceremony he was agreed to perform.  He was alarmed, hurried to the house in order to beg for forgiveness.  Surprisingly, the man in that house greeted him with utmost reverence and thanked him for his dedicated performance of the shraddha rituals.  In a moment, Venkataraman was in a state of ecstasy, he reverently remembered the compassion of Lord.

 

Years passed by, Venkataraman was married to a pious woman Janaki.  After the sad demise of his father, Venkataraman took the responsibility of taking care of the family; he journeyed to nearby villages to teach the children Veda, his disciples were brilliant and it helped him to earn more and more students.  Shortly, Venkataraman found it difficult to allocate time for Rama Nama Japam, so he discarded the family life and left to Ayodhya.  He immersed in chanting Rama Nama Japam and engaged in Uncchavruthi, eventually he reached Andhra Pradhesh.  There he found mass of people travelling to Thirupathi singing Rama Nama and dancing to the tunes in a state of bliss.  The very moment he had decided to bring awareness and Bakthi cult among the people of Tamil Nadu, he decided to incorporate the compositions/Sambradaya of great saints and holy men of North and the compositions / Keerthana of saints of South.    On that night Sri Bodhendra Swamigal appeared in his dream, advised him that he has realized the purpose of his life and he need not go back to Ayodhya.   Further, Bodhendra Swamigal instructed him to return to Thiruvisanallur to spread Nama Bhakthi.  Venkataraman sincerely followed the instructions of his Acharya and returned to Maruthanallur.  He constructed a spectacular form of Dakshina Bajan Sambradaya, incorporating the stunning compositions of Sri Jayadevar’s Ashtapadi, compositions of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval, Badrachala Ramadasar, Thyagarajar, Purandaradasar, Tukaram etc…  A mutt was established in Maruthanallur and Dakshina Bajana Sambradaya was taught to the people at large.   Gradually he was known by Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal.

 

Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal visited to Govindapuram to worship the Samadhi Sthal of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal.  He was unable to locate the Samadhi Sthal, he was disconsolate remained fast for nine days, without moving a bit immersed in chanting the Rama Nama.  On the tenth day, he regained conscious and hurried to the banks of river Cauvery.  There he kept his ears on the ground as if listening to something, he continued the search and eventually he heard the loud majestic voice of his Acharyals Rama Nama Japam.  Maruthanallur Sri Saduguru Swamigal approached the ruler of Tanjore (Sarfoji) and magnificent Samadhi Sthal was constructed in its place.  On the previous night the King had a dream in that Lord Anjaneya informed that Lord Rama was on his way to meet him.  King Sarfoji fallen at the feet of Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal and attained blessings.

 

Maruthanallur Sri Saguru Swamigal performed many mysterious events those were truly mesmerizing.  Once, a person Balakalochan was sarcastic at Swamigal while Swamigal was attending Uncchavruthi.  Soon Balakalochan was afflicted with excruciating stomach ache, before long his wife begged for forgiveness to Swamigal.  The compassionate Swamigal gave the holy water from his vessel.  After consuming the holy water Balalochan got rid of the stomach ache and became the disciple of Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal.  Balakalochan composed marvelous verses’ praising his Acharya ‘Athade Parabramam’ stands as Guru Vandanam in Dakshina Bajana Sambradaya. 

 

Maruthanallur Sri Swamigal devoted all his for forty years of life in spreading the Bakthi cult through the soul stirring Nama Sankeerthana, attained Samadhi at the age of forty.   Swamigal shaped a unique form of Bajana Sampradaya, incorporating the compositions of various saints and holy men of different states and adding mesmerizing effects with the various musical instruments of divinity into it.  In this way, he introduced an exceptional form of worship of Lord and created an enormous awareness amongst the public.  Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal marvelously shaped the Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya for the occasions of performance of Radha Kalyanam, Sita Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam etc…  and in a short span of time it became widely celebrated among the people.

 

Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal attained Samadhi at Thiruvavduthurai Sri Jagathrakshaka Perumal Temple in the year 1817, on the previous day of Rama Navami.

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!