Life Story of Sri Seshadri Swamigal

Chapter 1

The Jewel of Kamakshi – Sri Kanchimandalam

From times immemorial the 400 square mile region around Kanchi (also called Thondaimandalam) has been one of the holiest pilgrim centers in India.   On four sides of this pilgrim center are the holy places of Viringipuram, Mahabalipuram, Devakipuram and Devapuram.   Two sacred rivers flow on each side of this region – one is Piasvini also known as the River Palar and the other is Dakshina Pinakini also known as South Pennar or South Pennaiyar.   One almost feels as if these two rivers are holding the region in their loving embrace with the objective of nourishing its inhabitants with Gnayana and Bhakti.   At the heart of this region shines the town of Kanchipuram.

Hindus consider Kanchipuram as one of the seven sacred centers guaranteeing salvation from all earthly and spiritual problems.   This region has been praised in all the puranas as Brahmapuram and Dharmakshetram and is so regarded by the devotees.  It has the good fortune of having thousands of Shivalingas in it.    The sacred bathing ghats of Khamba, Shivaganga and Umabhadra situated in this region attract pilgrims in large numbers as it is believed that a dip in these ghats confers absolution from all sins.   The sacred mango tree which is the Stalavriksha of this place is reputed to have saved the Muni Markandeya from the mahapralaya or the great deluge.

The temples of Sri Kamakshi, Sri Ekambaranatha and Sri Varadaraja Perumal are the star attractions of this place.   If one takes a careful look at Kanchipuram and all the 72 temples in and around it, one is driven to the conclusion that it is almost like the Bindustana or the center point of the outermost circle of a Srichakra.   A Srichakra is something which every worshipper of Sri Kamakshi is familiar with.   It is a diagram for magical incantations used in the worship of Sri Kamakshi.    Because of this privileged central location of the Sri Kamakshi temple at Kanchi it is known to all Shakti worshippers as “Kamaraja Peeta” or “Bhuyoni” or “Bilakasha” .

Kanchi, being sanctified by the three temples of Sri Kamakshi, Sri Ekambaranatha and Sri Varadaraja Perumal, has always acted as a magnet attracting Avatara Purushas, Yogis, Siddhas and Gnayanis.    Among the great luminaries that were attracted to this place, Sri Sankara happens to be the foremost.   After his Digvijaya, he stayed at Kanchi for some years and went on to establish the Kamaraja Peeta or Sri Chakraraja.    In order to ensure that the teachings and practices of the Vedas remained intact among the following generations he also established a Gurupeeta.     Since that time this pilgrimage center has gained greater sanctity.  Countless seekers of Gnynana chose to settle down in this place.

It was Sri Sankara who codified the rules and practices relating to Sri Vidhya or the worship of Sri Kamakshi.    It was his firm belief that Sri Vidhya is the best way of propagating the doctrines of Adhvaitha or “Non-Dualism”.   He personally taught all his disciples the secrets of the mantras and the yantras used in the worship of Sri Vidhya accessible to all Shakthi worshippers.

It was Sankara’s great desire to establish the worship of Sri Kamakshi on a firm foundation.   This could be done only by those who were trained in this art of worship.   Looking around  he was disappointed to find that there were no suitable candidates in Kanchi who could be trained for this.   So he went to the banks of Narmada and selected 30 Devi Bhaktas from there and brought them to Kanchi along with their families.   He made them settle down in Kanchi so that the worship of Sri Kamakshi could continue according to the religious scriptures from generation to generation.   The method of worship was according to religious scriptures that was transmitted by the successors to all the following generations.   The descendants of these 30 Devi Bhakta who settled down in Kanchi came to be known as Kamakotis.

The Descendants of the Kamakotis

Everyone born in the ancestral line of Kamakotis were nothing less than a saint.  They had made a thorough study of the four Vedas, the Ithihasas and the Puranas.   They composed many Smruthis.    They lived according to the teachings of Vedas and to them Sri Kamakshi was the Ishtadevatha and Kuladevatha.     They had acquired mastery over the worship of Sri Kamakshi and were honored everywhere as Gnaynis.

Of the 30 families belonging to the ancestral line of Kamakotis 10 belonged to the Pourakuthsa  Gothra, 10 to the Kowndanya Gothra and the remaining 10 to the Kaushika Gothra.   Also 15 of these families belonged to Ashtasahasra Group and 15 to the Vadama Group.

After 1200 A.D. wickedness and lawlessness made social life difficult as adharma began to raise its ugly head.     This had its impact on the life of the 30 Kamokoti families and they began to dwindle and disappear.    Only two families, one belonging to the Pourakuthsa Gothra and the other belonging to Kowdanya Gothra survived.  They withstood the onslaught of adharma and continued to cling to the straight path of duty with courage and tenacity.

In those days regional chieftains belonging to the Rayar dynasty, Naikar dynasty and the Maratha dynasty ruled over places like Vijayanagaram, Vellore, Arcot and Tanjavur.   Members belonging to these two surviving Kamakoti families functioned as Ministers, Gurus and Asthana Vidhwans (court Scholars) in these kingdoms.    They were greatly honored by these regional satraps as they were adepts in Sri Vidhya.    They had power of both “Nigraha” and “Anugraha” and were great scholars in mathematics, astrology and astronomy.   They could also foresee the future.    They were none in those days who did not look upon the members of the Kamakoti family with special reverence.   Among these scholars Jyothisha Subbarayar, Devaraja Jyoshiar, Seshadri Jyoshiar, Venkataramana Shastri and Kamakoti Shastri stood head and reign over all others.

After 1500 A.D. some of these regional chieftains requested the members of the Kamakoti family to work in Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple.  They were given the traditional rights to interpret the almanacs and to settle points of dispute which arose.    As a reward for their agreeing to work in the Vishnu temple they were given lands, houses, vehicles and titles on a hereditary basis.   Having accepted service in Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple they agreed to adopt Vaishnavite practices and religious symbols.    Nevertheless they did not give up their devotion to Sri Kamakshi and their firm faith in the doctrine of Advaitha.

As time passed animosity and religious disputes replaced the cordial relations between Shivites (devotees of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (devotees of Lord Vishnu).   As a consequence of this many Veera Vaishnavas began to take a tough stand on persons refusing to wear the Vaishnava religious symbols and decreed that they should not be allowed to work in the temple in any capacity.   The Kamakoti families employed in the Vishnu temple were forced to forsake employment because to them the adoption of the Vaishnavite religious symbol was like a betrayal of the ancestral practices of Sri Vidhya.   The hereditary rights to property and titles which they had been enjoying till now were confiscated.    They were anxious even about the residual property falling under litigation.   Finally only two ancestral houses, one in Sivakanchi and the other in Vishnukanchi were retained by the Kamakoti families and the rest of the property was distributed among the poor and the needy.   Though they were nominally householders they lived like detached ascetics practicing Gnyana and Vairaghya.

Kamakoti Shastri

With the advent of adharma and the accompanying religious recrimination between the Vaishnavites and Shivites, belief and devotion to God and the practice of a righteous life began to decline.   The task of re-establishing the faith of their forefathers and the practice of righteous codes of conduct required the presence of a great religious teacher.     About that time i.e.  in 1790 A.D. a great teacher named Kamakoti Shastri was born in the ancestral line of Kamakoti.   His life clearly showed that he had the grace of Sri Kamakshi.   Like his forefathers even in his boyhood he had mastered the art of Sri Vidhya.   This mastery enabled him to interpret the Vedas, Puranas, Smruthis, Tharka, Vyakarana and Mimamsa with conviction and force.   He achieved all round recognition and fame as a Maharishi and an all-knowing scholar.   People turned to him for guidance and advice to settle all disputes regarding the Vedas.   He religiously performed the Homas and the Aagutis every day.

It was his daily practice to be up very early in the morning attend his daily ablutions.  Then he would recite the Gayatri mantra a thousand times.  The performance of Homas occupied him for quite sometime in the morning.  In this way all the injunctions to the Vedas were followed by him with zeal and regularity.   He was a shining example to the hundreds of disciples wanting to lead a spiritual life.   They would fill his small cottage to learn the Vedas and Sastras.   Anyone entering his house would get the feeling that they were in a Tapovana and were learning from a teacher in a Gurukula.   The many students trained by him went on to propagate the teachings of their Guru everywhere and as a consequence disputes in the name of religion and the tendency to live a lawful life began to decline in South India.

This great man had another noteworthy talent.   Being blessed in the full measure of Sri Kamakshi, he was graced with the capacity to compose many musical compositions.   During worship he would sing devotional songs which touched everybody’s heart.   Because of his skill in composing, singing and teaching music, people referred to him as Baratha Muni.   Kamakoti Shastri has been credited with hundreds of Kirthanas in Sanskrit and Telugu addressed to Shiva, Vishnu and Parashakthi.   Each of these compositions was overflowing with bakthirasa.

Even the great Vaishnava scholar Tirruppakuzhi Swamy who was a match to Kamakoti Shastri in every respect was lavish in praise of the books and devotional songs written by Kamakoti Shastri.   Thus Kamakoti Shastri was looked upon as an outstanding jewel among the scholars by the people of South India.   He was often invited to the neighboring towns to deliver lectures on religion and give Manthropadesha to the residents.   Once, while visiting a sparsely populated village called Vazhur in Vandavashi taluk, Kamakoti Shastri was taken by the tranquil tapovan like atmosphere and he decided to settle down there.   Many of his admirers in the village were overjoyed at this prospect and gave him a house to live in.   Thus Kamakoti Shastri who was born in Kanchi settled in Vazhur from the time of his boyhood.

This great scholar who was born in Kowdanya Gothra had no sons.  His only child was his daughter Seshammal.   But he considered the sons of his brother Chidambara Shastri as his own.   Chidambara Shastri and Kamakoti Shastri lived in the same house, like Rama and Lakshmana.    Chidambara Shastri had two sons and two daughters.    Venkataramana Shastri and Narasimha Shastri were the sons and Sundarambal and Maragadam were the daughters.   Among these children Venkataramana Shastri distinguished himself as a Vedic scholar right from his childhood.   He reluctantly lived as a householder for sometime before renouncing the world and going away to Banaras.  He died in the year 1904.   The other children lived with their parents in Vazhur.

Maragadam

Maragadam was a beautiful and intelligent girl whose conduct was exemplary.   Her extraordinary scholarship led people to regard her as an image of Sri Kanchi Kamakshi.   Kamakoti Shastri had a special place in his heart for her and trained her in music and the different branches of knowledge like Kavya, Nataka and Alankara.    Even before the age of 12, she succeeded in winning the title of Sahithya Sangeetha Kalavathi as her outstanding proficiency in music left everyone impressed.   Everyone looked forward for a great future for her.

Marriage of Maragadam

When it was time for Maragadam to get married Kamakoti Shastri considered several prospective husbands before selecting a student by name Varadarajan to be his future son-in-law.    Varadarajan was born in Kamakoti ancestral line under the Pourakuthsa Gothra.   At a very young age he had acquired a mastery over the Sri Vidhya and outshone all the other young men in looks and knowledge.   He had made a thorough study of the Vedas and his conduct was outstanding.   To him his parents and his teachers were objects of great veneration and he was happiest in the company of scholars.   Everyone felt that he had the special grace of Sri Varadaraja Perumal.   People called him Raja.   Raja and Maragadam seemed made of each other.

Kamakoti Shastri and Chidambara Shastri approached Seshadri Jyoshiar, father of Raja, with a proposal and sought his consent for this marriage.    The consent was readily given and the whole town participated in the seven day marriage ceremonies that were conducted with great jubilation, pomp and ceremony.

The married life of Raja and Maragadam

Raja and Maragadam were an ideal couple and their daily conduct showed that they had due regard for all the proprieties and devotion to Sri Kamakshi and Sri Ekambaranatha.   Raja considered himself very lucky to have married one similar to him in all respects – both in knowledge and devotion.    He could not help feeling blessed by the modesty of his wife and her willingness to support his opinions and judgement in all matters.

Like his distinguished father-in-law, Raja was also a great scholar and had a large number of disciples living with him to learn the Shastras.   They came to him mainly to learn Astrology because he was considered as Garga Maharishi in that science and was a descendent from a distinguished line of astrologers.   He was great both as a teacher and in interpreting astrology.   His prediction acquired a special force among the people because he was a very truthful man by nature.   He was known as Varadaraja Jyoshiar in the neighborhood.   He resided with his brother Ramaswamy Jyoshiar who was equal in temperament and character.    Varadaraja Jyoshiar and Ramaswamy Jyoshiar lived as one family.

In their married life Varadaraja Jyoshiar and his wife were careful not to transgress the limits set by the Shastras.   Because of their similarity in temperament, unfailing devotion and correct conduct people in Kanchi regarded them as Parvathi and Paramashiva.   Some others compared them with Arundathi and her husband Vashishta.

Though both husband and wife were blessed with health and wealth they had no children for several years.  This made them unhappy.   All the efforts made by them to seek redressal by practices recommended in the Shastras for the birth of a child proved fruitless.  

The sorrow and heartache of the couple did not fail to escape the notice of Maragadam’s uncle Kamakoti Shastri and he prayed to Sri Kamakshi for a grandson.   Sri Kamakshi appeared to him in his dream and assured him that a grandson would be born to him if he acted according to certain instructions.   Before long Maragadam and her husband had the good fortune of knowing that a son would be born to them soon.

The advent of Sri Seshadri Swamy

A handsome boy was born to the couple at an extremely auspicious time.   It was Uttarayana on a Saturday and Seshadri Swamigal was born in Brahmamuhurtha bearing Hastha Nakshatram.

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Varadaraja Jyoshiar, Chidambara Shastri and Kamakoti Shastri rejoiced the birth of this child who was destined to become a great saint.   The child was named Seshadri because he was born on a Saturday the day that was sacred to their Kuladevatha Srinivasa.   For a month after the birth of the child the town of Kanchi wore a festive look and the poor and the needy were overwhelmed with gifts.   People flocked in large numbers to see the newly born child.   Both Varadarajan and Maragadam found special joy in playing with their infant Seshadri.   The child served to cement their bonds closer.

Fondness and Separation

Sri Seshadri as an infant

Even during the earliest days of infancy there were indications of the mission that Sri Seshadri was born to accomplish in his later life.   Like all parents Maragadam and Varadarajan saw only his childish pranks in the beginning but soon the boy began to show his behavior that he was destined to become a great saint in his future life.   When his father was busy teaching the shastras to the students the infant Seshadri would sit for long hours in His father’s lap listening to the abstract philosophical discourses.  Like the infant Dhruva and infant Prahalada He too would happily join his parents when they were busy with their poojas and devotional practices.   At times He would mystify His parents by spending long hours in meditation with His eyes closed.   The parents, especially His mother taught the infant religious kirthanas and stotras like “Mooshikavahanam”, “Ramashaktham”, “Krishnashaktam”,  Mooka Panchashati” and Gurustuti.   Infant Seshadri would sing them every morning and evening in his melodious voice.    No mistakes would be there in his pronunciation and diction nor was there any break in the continuity.

Seshadri found great pleasure in these devotional practices.   Though the boy was playful and mischievous like other children at other times of the day nothing could distract Him while He was engrossed in His devotional pursuits.    There was an extraordinary luminosity in His looks which did not escape the notice of the onlookers.

The Golden Hand

Maragadam was in the habit of going to the temple everyday and once during the summer festival of Sri Varadaraja Perumal she took Seshadri along with her.   As usual small traders had come in large numbers to sell their wares and they had set up stalls along the routes to Sri Vishnu temple.   Among these trades was a hawker who had a sack full of small bras images of Sri Krishna.    The infant Seshadri who was walking with his mother to the temple, stood spell bound in front of this particular stall and began nagging His mother to buy Him one of those Krishna idols so that he could worship it at home.   His mother hesitated and wondered if she should yield to the wishes of her child.   The hawker noticing the divine magnetism of the child was reminded of Sri Krishna and offered an idol free of cost to the child.   The mother offered to pay for the idol but the hawker refused and said that he hoped that the child who had touched the idols would act as a talisman bringing him luck in his business transactions during the day.   Seshadri returned home very delighted.

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The next day Maragadam accompanied by her son and some other friends visited the temple again.   The hawker suddenly appeared before them and surprised everyone by falling at the feet of the infant’s mother.   On rising he griped the child’s had in affection and gratitude and informed that he had sold a thousand images the previous day.   He attributed this to the child’s miraculous touch.   Such a miracle has never happened in his life.   He shook the boy’s hand with great joy, repeatedly saying “My golden hand Krishnamoorthy”.   The news of this miraculous event soon spread all over the town and the boy began to be referred to as the Golden handed Krishnamoorthy.

This Krishna image was a special favorite with infant Seshadri and He used to worship it every day.    Even now the image can be seen in the house of Swami’s brother Narasimha Jyoshiar where daily worship is offered to it.   This is one example of the many miracles attributed to the Swami in childhood.

The education of infant Seshadri

When Seshadri was five years of age an auspicious day and time was selected for performing the Vidhyarambam ceremony signifying the formal start of Swami’s education.   The grandfather Kamakoti Shastri invited many relatives and scholars to the happy occasion and showered them with gifts.   They in turn blessed the child wishing Him a distinguished career as a scholar.   The same day Seshardi was sent to a school.   He went every morning and evening with enthusiasm and joy and proved to be quick in mastering everything.   Everyone was impressed by his intelligence, power of retention and eloquence.   His skills in debate and argument won Him many friends.   He had mastered all branches of learning.  His mother being a great musician herself, taught Him music at home.   It is not merely in the Sanskrit scriptures that He acquired mastery but Tamil scholars like Masilamani Mudaliar and Venkatachala Mudaliar gave Him an excellent grounding in the Tamil classics.

Soon Seshadri’s name was familiar in all the literary circles of Kanchi.   He did not miss a single gathering of scholars.   Even at a young age He could argue eloquently in defense of His point of view in debate competitions.   In colleges and public meetings, He was always the first to be invited to talk.   His lectures showed sound knowledge, excellent choice of diction and appealed to scholars and layman alike.   He would embellish them with musical interludes and apt quotations.   His melodious songs left a permanent imprint on the memory of His listeners.

The Swamy did not lag behind in His capacity for poetic compositions.   He composed many songs in praise of Sri Varadaraja Perumal and Sri Kamakshi.   This fact is attested by the testimony of His brother and also many of His intimate friends and relatives.   It is a matter of deep regret that none of these compositions has survived the onslaught of time.

The Swami’s investiture with sacred thread and His study of Vedas

It is almost as if the Swami had been specially selected for Sri Kamakshi’s special grace.   It was His father’s earnest desire to invest Him with the sacred thread and start His Vedic training at the age of five.  But he could not do so.   For one thing, the birth of a second son named Narasimhan at this time made it difficult for the father to carry out this wish.   The family astrologers were also against this proposal as they felt that the time was inopportune.   The investiture with the sacred thread could be performed when Seshadri was aged seven.   The

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fond grandfather Kamakoti Shastri personally undertook the task of teaching Swami the Gayatri Mantra and Sandyavandana ritual by putting Him through a training period of ten days.   He then told Swami that He could now start the formal study of Vedas and he also promised to teach Swami the path to self-realization, after He had mastered the sciences of logic and grammar.   The secret mantras which were known only to him were also communicated to Swami in due course.   The old man’s anxiety to quickly transmit all the knowledge to his grandson stemmed from the knowledge that he would not live long and must therefore, find a deserving student to receive this precious knowledge.    Accordingly Swami made an intensive study of the Vedas in the school run by Sri Srinivachari.   He learnt the Gnyaya Shastra from a Madhava teacher named Vidhyachar.   A scholar named Ramachandrachar taught Him the grammatical texts along with the learned commentaries.

Swami loses his father

Five or six years after Swami began his studies he suffered his first major bereavement in the death of His father.   It was Seshadri’s daily practice to serve His parents before leaving for school and after returning from it.   One morning, while busy serving His father, Varadarajan surprised his son by suddenly holding Him on a tight embrace and shedding tears.   The Swami was taken aback and made anxious enquiries about the cause of His father’s sorrow.   He could not bear His father’s suffering.   Seshadri’s mother also came running and held her husband and asked him why he was crying and if he was unwell.   Varadarajan then consoled them and said that he was thinking of the people in town who sung praises of Seshadri’s knowledge and good nature and at that very moment Seshadri had prostrated before him and so he was overwhelmed and could not control his tears of joy.   He then told Seshadri that He should not be bothering Himself by daily prostrating before him and if He felt like He could do it only to His mother as serving mother was more important than the father.   Swami Seshadri replied to His father that he has never differentiated between His father and Mother and He liked them both the same.   He had never felt any difference in the affection He was receiving from both of them.   He again prostrated before both His parents thrice and went to school.

Sri Varadarajan turned to his wife Maragadam and said “By the grace of Sri Kamakshi I was married to you.  I have been immensely pleased by the services you have rendered me.   We have been blessed with a son who will be famous throughout the world.   For as many years as I live in this world, my desire to be with you and Seshadri will never be contained.   My brother Ramaswamy does not have any children and hence would like to adopt our son Narasimhan.   Please allow him to do so.   Seshadri will be very famous.   Devi Kamakshi has ordered me to leave this world.   I will be leaving all of you before sunset tomorrow.  You will be with Seshadri for some more years before leaving this earthly abode to attain the lotus feet of Goddess Kamakshi.”   On hearing this Maragadam lost consciousness.

Varadarajan helped his wife to gain consciousness and told her not to behave like ordinary human being but to be courageous.   Maragadam was confused and worried.   Some neighbors, on coming to know what happened, consoled Maragadam.

In the meantime, Varadarajan followed his daily rituals of prayers etc., and had his lunch.   He started reading the holy books.   By sunset he had his bath and went to the temple to have

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 last darshan if Sri Ekambareshwar and Sri Kamakshi.   He was pleased and stayed in the temple till midnight.   On his return he started meditating without taking dinner.   Soon he started suffering from diarrhea.    He then called Seshadri and said “My dear son, do not worry.   If a person has diarrhea when he is about to die, he will never have loss of memory.   Great Yogis have always wished to die like this.   By the grace of God I have this condition.   Now I am going to meditate.    I do not have much to say but remember that however much you learn the Vedas and Shastras, it is your experience in life that is very important.   The knowledge gained by experience will always be the greatest wisdom acquired by you.

After talking thus to Seshadri he started meditating.   When dawn was about to break Varadarajan attained the lotus feet of the lord.   Seshadri could not control His emotions.   He performed the last rites of His father.   The loss of His father caused Him to lose interest in the worldly affairs and He became detached.

Vedantha Shastras

At this juncture the Vedanta Scholar Sri Kamakoti Shastri came to their house and consoled Maragadam.    He brought her and the children to Vazhuvur with him.   Seshadri was 14 years old at the time.   Kamakoti Shastri started teaching Vedanta to Seshadri.   The basic quality required to learn Vedantha is detachment.   Seshadri was so detached from worldly affairs that He could master the Upanishad, Brahma Sutra and Bhagavad Gita and the entire Vedantha Shastra within a span of one year.   By the age of 15, Sri Seshadri attained great fame as he was Master of the Vedantha Shastra.

The death of Kamakoti Shastri

Kamakoti Shastri was known for his good qualities like detachment, desire lessness etc. There are several stories in his life to illustrate these characteristics.   When he was 80 years old he was approached by the Thasildar of Vandavasi, Mr.Venkatasubbair (a maternal relative of Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer) who wished to learn the Ramayana and Bhagavatha.  On hearing Venkatasubbair’s desire, Kamakoti Shastri told him that since he had become old and weak, he would ask Seshadri to teach him.   Venkatasubbair agreed and he took Kamakoti Shastri and Seshadri along with him to Vandavasi.   They stayed there for about a year.   After this Kamakoti Shastri fell ill and realized that the time for him to leave this world was drawing to a close.   He wanted to attain Sanyas before he left for heavenly abode.   He requested Sri Krishnananda Swami of Kanchi’s Brahma Mutt for Diksha.   Sri Krishnananda Swami accepted him as a disciple, prepared him for sanyas and gave him the title of Brahmananda Saraswathi.  After becoming a sanyasi, Kamakoti Shastri who was old and weak started residing in the temple where Maragadam and her two sons visited him daily.  They looked after him.   Three months later Kamakoti Shastri felt a little better and went to Thamal and ten days later he attained heavenly abode.    Even today people who visit Thamal will be able to see the place where Kamakoti was cremated as a small Brindavan was built there.

Marriage arrangements for Seshadri

After the death of her husband Maragadam spent most of her time in the service of God, meditation etc., and did not talk much.   She had food only once a day.   She used to talk only to Seshadri about Gnayana and Vairagya.  Seventeen yeas old Seshadri with His good looks

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and vast knowledge and loveable personality endeared Himself to His mother.   Even though she was busy with divine pursuits her affection for her son grew stronger.

Maragadam decided to get her son married.   Seshadri’s aunt Venkatalakshmi, from Thamal village had a beautiful and intelligent daughter called Kakini Devi.   Venkatalakshmi desired to give her daughter in marriage to Seshadri and approached Ramaswami Jyoshiar and Seshadri’s mother Maragadam.    She expressed her desired and requested them to fix an auspicious day for the marriage.   At that time Ramasamy Jyoshiar informed Venkatalakshmi that Seshadri’s horoscope revealed the fact that He would become a Sanyasi.   Hence he advised her to find another groom for her daughter.   On hearing this Venkatalakshmi was heart broken and she returned to her village.

Maragadam who was preparing to sit for her meditation overheard what Ramaswai Jyoshiar told Venkatalakshmi and lost consciousness.   Seshadri who had been to the temple returned at that time and was anxious about His mother’s condition.   He took her in His arms and asked her as to what happened.   She wept and revealed to Him, Ramaswami Jyoshiar’s prediction that He would become a sanyasi.   She said that anything predicted by Rmaswamy Jyoshiar would never prove to be false and that she did not want to live anymore. 

From the day Maragadam heard that Seshadri would become a Sanyasi, she became fully detached.   She even stopped taking the one meal a day that she was eating.   Around that time she also received intimation about the demise of her brother Narasimha Shastri.   She became very ill and refused to take any treatment.   On the tenth day of Karmic month she called Seshadri and asked him to stay with her till the next day evening when she would depart for Heavenly abode.   The next day was Ekadasi and Maragatham woke up and recited a sloka from Sankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam.   She then asked Seshadri to sing a devotional song on Lord Shiva and she sang it along with him.   She mentioned Arunachala’s name thrice before passing away on Seshadri’s lap.   On seeing his mother die, Seshadri fainted.   After sometime he regained conscious, consoled himself and performed the last rites of His mother.

The Journey of Sanyasa

Sri Seshadri’s Vairagya

Sri Seshadri’s uncle Ramaswamy Jyoshiar and his wife Kalyani did not have any children and therefore looked after Sri Seshadri and his brother Narasimhan as if they were their own children.   Ramaswamy Jyoshiar had ancestral property and also earned income from his profession of Astrology.   Life was therefore, comfortable and Sri Seshadri was not aware of any problems.   In spite of this comfort he never felt like staying in the house.   He became very detached of all worldly affairs after His mother’s death.

Sri Seshadri’s mother uttered the name of Arunachala before her demise.   Even though Sri Seshadri had not seen Tiruvannamalai, He was drawn to Arunachala.   He drew the mountain in Tiruvannamalai with its 5 peaks on a piece of cardboard and because of His devotion to Arunachala, the mountain He drew had a close resemblance to the mountain in Tiruvannamalai.   He started worshipping the picture of the mountain He drew.  Apart from this Sri Seshadri also worshipped the photos of Sri Kamakshi and Sri Rama that were placed in His room.  He used to start His worship by 5’o clock in the morning and would come out only

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by 12 in the noon.   He never had His food on time and on several days   He would not eat and would fast the whole day.   He would be heard uttering the name of Arunachala very often and on many nights He would keep awake and chant praises of Sri Durga.   His uncle and aunt pleaded Him not to punish His body by starving and lack of sleep as they were worried that He would fall sick.   They started pressurizing Him as a result of which Swami started staying away from the house and began residing in the temple where He did His daily worship.

Sri Seshadri was well versed in Shastras and had always enjoyed discussions regarding them with Kunnappakkam Srinivachar and other scholars but after sometime he stopped participating in these discussions.   He started bathing three times in a day and often He would say that He still did not feel pure and would bathe again.    He began bathing several times in a day but would never take an oil bath.   He also stopped shaving.

He would meditate till noon sitting in “Chakkrathazhvar temple facing north.   After 2’o clock in the afternoon He would visit Sri Kamakshi temple where He performed several pradakshanams (walking around the temple) and prostrated before the idol of Sri Kamakshi many times.   He would chant “Mooka Pancha Stuthi” while meditating.   He used to go home only after midnight and would never take any food.    He sometimes applied lot of Kumkum on His forehead and prostrated before the sun.   He could be observed talking to Himself and if interrupted would reply only in Sanskrit.   He would prostrate before girls, women and other friends and acquaintances while He met them on the streets because He believed that God was seated in everyone’s soul.   When a God’s idol was taken on a procession in the streets, He would go in front and remove all dirty stones and leaves.   Sometimes He would also join the learned scholars who followed the procession and take part in the discussions.   He invariably won all the arguments.    Sometimes He would wander the four kilometer distance between Gangabhai choultry and His house talking to Himself.   He never identified Himself with His own home but instead made others feel that He considered all homes as His own.   He never failed to chant Gayatri Japa and never forgot to do Sandhyavandanam.

He never used to sleep at night.  Rama Jyoshiar and Kalyani used to search for Him and bring Him home.   He would be very nice to them and when they insisted He sometimes stayed at home for two or three days.

Sometimes when He felt hungry He used to go to Vangipuram Srinivasa Iyengar.   He always felt at home in their house.   They also treated Him as their own son.   They used to have prasadam brought from the temple.   He used to ask for it and eat it.   While eating sometimes, He used to feed the cows and the dogs.   The children in Srinivasa Iyengar’s house used to feel very happy whenever Seshadri visited them since He would play with them.

Sometimes a few people would gather around Swami when He was chanting and ask Him what He was doing.   He would explain that He was chanting a specific mantra from Narayana Upanishad to get rid of Karma.  He used to explain that He had already chanted it one lakh times and He would chant the mantra a further fifty thousand times.   He advised everybody around to also chant the mantra so that they could get rid of their Karma and attain the lotus feet of God.   Everybody realized the wisdom of His words but His relatives and friends felt so sorry that He had become so detached and had taken up Sanyas.

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Meditation in the grave yard and worry of the relatives

When His relatives and the other people in Kanchi started troubling Him by asking Him too many questions about His behavior, He stopped meditating in the temple.   He started looking for lonely places where He could meditate without any disturbance.   He could find only the graveyard and started His meditation there.   He would spend the day at home chanting and meditating and after Sandhyavandanam (evening prayers) He would go to the graveyard on the banks of Vegavathi river to spend the night and return only the next morning.   Initially for about 10 days nobody knew about this but when His relatives discovered this fact they raised objections because chanting and meditation should be done only in holy places.   They said that though they were happy that He sought the path of Vairagya, they were worried that He went to the graveyard every night to practice it.   They requested Him to stop this practice and resume his meditations either at home or in the temple.  Sri Seshadri did not agree with them and insisted that He was doing the right thing because graveyard was the place of Sri Rudhra.   He also stated that any mantra chanted even once in the graveyard would have an effect of having chanted a thousand times elsewhere.  On hearing this, his relatives locked Him in His room one evening to prevent Him from going out.   On coming to know this He locked himself from within and started meditating inside the room.   For three consecutive days He did not open the door.   His uncle and aunt became extremely anxious because they feared that He would fall ill and with great efforts they made Him open the door.   The more they tried to restrain Seshadri from visiting the graveyard the stronger was His resolve to stay there.   He stopped eating even the little food he used to take but the glow and the charisma on His face increased attracting everyone towards Him.   If Seshadri returned home from the graveyard after meditation, He would spend time happily with His uncle and aunt by making them laugh with His humorous conversations.  Everybody would forget themselves and would be taken in by His charm.

Seshadri explained to His uncle that it was not necessary for His relatives to worry about Him.   He also said that He was leading His life in the manner which He felt was the best for Him.   He added that everybody should lead their own lives.    Ramaswamy Jysohiar was consoled by these words.    Seshadri used to give His uncle oil massage on Saturdays and while doing so he would stare at the sky and tell that He could see the Gods and angles singing in Bilahari ragam.  He said that others were not able to see this as they still had attachments to worldly affairs.  On hearing this His uncle was convinced that Seshadri has become completely mad.

None of the relatives realized the powers and greatness of Swami and hence were worried about Him.   They blamed Ramaswamy Jyoshiar for stopping His marriage and asked him to find another bride for Swami to remedy the situation.   Ramaswamy Jyoshiar felt guilty and approached Seshadri regarding this.   On hearing this Swamy told him not to worry about these matters.   He thanked His uncle for predicting that He would take up Sanyas and regretted that He could not repay His uncle’s kindness.   He also said that if He was forced to marry, He would leave Kanchi immediately and nobody would ever see Him again.   On hearing this Kalyani came running to Seshadri and told Him that they would never force Him to get married and that He could continue to practice mediation in the graveyard.

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One day Parasurama Shastri from Thamal   village visited Ramaswami Jyosiar with the intention of advising Swami not to meditate in grave yard.  Seshadri Swami on being advised argued with him for three hours in Sanskrit, at the end of which Parasurama Shastri told Swami that if He continued to meditate in the graveyard, He should not come back home as it was considered inauspicious.   Swami was happy to hear this and He considered this as a sign to leave home.   After this incident He never came home and started living under trees or in the temple.   Ramaswami Jyoshiar also gave up hope on Swami.

Swami’s Sanyas

Five or six months passed in meditation in the graveyard.   At this juncture Lord Shiva’s grace fell on Swami.  One day on His usual visit to the temple Swami saw a sanyasi who resembled Shiva sitting near the tank.   The sanyasi’s body was shining like gold and his broad eyes were full of kindness, mercy, compassion and grace.   There were four disciples with him.  Swami felt that Lord Shiva Himself was standing there.    He started reciting Dhakshinamoorthy Ashtakam and fell flat on the feet of the Sanyasi.   Tears flowed from Swami’s eyes.   The Sanyasi was pleased with the devotion shown by Swami and asked Him to sit before Him.   Through the eyes of this Sanyasi, Swami received His first initiation.

Pattanna who was Swami’s friend and the son of temple manager gathered information about the Sanyasi from the four disciples.   He learnt that the Sanyasi’s name was Balaji Swami and that he had undertaken a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram from Haridhwar.   He had stopped at Kanchi for a week to worship the Sri Chakra Nayaki.   Balaji Swami had long discussions with Swami and Pattanna.   Swami continued to remain with Balaji Swami to serve him.   He followed all instructions of the Sanyasi and tried to meet all his requirements.   He offered His personal services to Balaji Swami.   Pattanna too often joined Swami in offering his services to the Sanyasi.   Five or six days passed this way.   Swami and Pattanna were impressed by the Sanyasi and desired to get initiated by him.   They fell at his feet and disclosed their desire and Balaji Swami was pleased to give them initiation.   Seating them near the temple tank he taught Pattanna the Devi Mantram.   He felt that Seshadri Swami was ready for Gnyana Sanyas, he passed on to Swami all the knowledge necessary to become a sanyasi and also handed over to Him the Dhanda and Kamandala – the two symbols of a true sanyasi.   Swami left the Dhanda and Kamandala in the waters of the temple tank and started wandering about like a sanyasi.   Lord Shiva had assumed the form of Balaji and he was pleased with Seshadri Swami’s action and disappeared with His four disciples.   Pattanna continued to recite the Devi Mantrams taught by Lord Shiva and obtained the grace of Devi.   Swami Seshadri was also happy with His sanyas and spent a few days wandering around Kanchi.

Swami’s Yoga Mahima

The day preceding Swami’s father’s death anniversary, Kalyani was very upset that Swami was not coming home for performing His father’s ceremony.   She forced Ramaswamy Jyoshiar to find Swami.   Ramaswami Jyoshiar looked for him and brought him home by force on the day of the ceremony.    Swami explained to them that as he was a sanyasi he need not take part in the ceremony.   But Ramaswamy Jyoshiar forcibly locked Him up in a room and insisted that He stay there at least for the ceremony.   Narasimha Jysohiar, Swami’s brother performed the rites and in the afternoon when they opened the door where Swami was locked up, they did

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not find Him   Everyone was convinced of Swami’s yogic powers and started looking for Him but He seemed to have disappeared.

Swami and the snake

After a few days Swami was found to be staying in a Shiva temple in Kaveripattinam, a town 20 miles away from Kanchi.   The Shiva here was referred to us “Mukthishwarar”.   Swami’s aunt Sundarammal and a few other relatives stayed in Kaveripattinam.    They persuaded Swami to return home with them and when He refused, they started providing his needs at the temple.   One day Swami’s cousin Seshaiar and Swami were going round the temple when they spotted a snake.   Seshaiar started screaming with fear but Swami on the other hand looked calmly at the snake and beckoned it to come near Him.   The snake glided towards Swami, coiled itself around His neck and held its hood open above Swami’s head like an umbrella.   In the meantime  Seshaiar had brought his relatives to the temple when they saw the snake which was around swami’s neck.   They were all speechless.   After sometime the snake just went away and everybody who witnessed this were convinced that Lord Shiva Himself had come as the snake.

Swami’s Samadhi State

Swami’s uncle Ramaswamy Jyoshiar and his wife Kalyani came to Kaveripattinam to see Swami.   At that time Swami was in deep meditation and had almost reached the samadhi stage.   He had closed His eyes and was absolutely still, forgetting His body and the surroundings.    When they saw Swami in this state, they felt that Lord Shiva Himself was sitting there in Swami’s form.   They fell at Swami’s feet and the people around them started chanting Lord Shiva’s Slokas.   On hearing this Swami opened his eyes.   His uncle and aunty apologised to Him for their behaviour and pleaded with Him to return to Kanchi with them.   They promised Him that they will not bother Him anymore.   But Swami consoled them and made them return to Kanchi.   As His fame started spreading many people started visiting Him and when the crowd became unmanageable, Swami left Kaveripattinam.

Swami’s wanderings

After this Swami started wandering around to  different towns and villages.  For long intervals nobody would know about His whereabouts.   Sometimes His relatives spotted him and they would take care of His needs.   However, He never stayed long in any one place.   During these wanderings Swami maintained silence at all times and was referred to as “Mouna Swamiar”.   In response to queries He communicated trough writing.   There are some notable incidents that occurred when Swami was travelling.

In Thindivanam Swami requested His relative T.K.Kannaiar for a place where He could meditate without any disturbance.   T.K.Kannaiar took Him to the local Shiva temple and requested the priest to allow Swami to stay in the Yogasala of the temple.   Swami asked the Yogasala to be locked from outside and asked not to be disturbed for one month as He would like to meditate without any disturbance.   Four days later the priest of the temple became extremely anxious as Swami had not taken any food or water.    He forced Kannaiar to make alternate arrangements for Swami’s stay.   Kannaiar, therefore had to open the door.  They were all very surprised to see Swami meditating looking very fresh.   When Swami heard the

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noise, He opened His eyes.   Kannaiar informed Swami about the priest’s worry, Swamy responded by writing and informing them that He would leave for Tiruvannamalai.   He started from there accompanied by three disciples.   They soon reached Iyyan Thoppu where the disciples asked Swami’s permission to have bath.   On returning from their bath, they found that Swami had disappeared.   They could not find Him even after extensive search.  

Swami continued His wanderings and stayed in temples and caves meditating.   When his relatives or public found Him, He would leave the place and move on.  Finally Swami reached Tiruvannamalai when He was 19 years old.   He left Kanchi in the year 1889 and reached Tiruvannamalai in the same year.   He was overwhelmed with joy on reaching Tiruvannamalai.

The following is a list of the placed that Swami stayed in before reaching Tiruvannamalai:

1. Kanchipuram                               9. Thirupathur
2. Vazhuvur                                       10. Javvaji Malai
3. Vandavasi                                        11. Kaniampadi
4. Kaveripattinam                                12. Padaiveedu
5. Thindivanam                                 13. Athuvampadi
6. Dusi Mamandur                               14. Thirunchikuppam
7. Valaja                                                 15. Polur
8. Velur                                                   16. Tiruvannamalai

The exact duration of stay in each place is not known but after reaching Tiruvannamalai, Swami never left this place.   He lived in Tiruvannamalai for the next 40 years before attaining Samadhi.

The Greatness of Tiruvannamalai

Sri Vyasa Muni has referred to Tiruvannmalai , in Skanda Puranam, as the only beacon of light to this whole world.

Sri Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi has made the following reference to Tiruvannamalai in His Arunachala Padhikam.

                        “I Have found a wonder (Tiruvannamalai).   This mountain

                            has the magnetic quality of attracting all living beings.   Just

                            the thought of this mountain makes all living beings forget

                            everything and draws them near.   Just understand and be

                            aware of the greatness and the magnetic nature of this mountain”

When Seshadri Swami was asked why He liked to stay in Tiruvannamalai, He answered that it is the only place where Shiva and Parvathy stayed together.    It was a place where human beings could attain liberation.   He also said in Tiruvannamalai, Sri Krishna placed His Sudarshana Chakra on the floor while He played His flute for Shiva, who danced to the music.   This even is symbolised by the presence of the Venugopalaswamy temple inside the Arunachala temple.

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The visit of Ramaswami Jyoshiar and Narasimha Jyoshiar to Tiruvannamalai

Swami’s aunt Kalyanai could not bear the separation from Him.   She fell ill in Kanchi and  attained the lotus feet of the Lord.   Narasimha Jyoshiar, Swami’s brother longed to see Swami.   He then got information from one of his relatives, that Swami was in Tiruvannamalai.   He made immediate arrangements to visit Tiruvannamalai along with his uncle.   They spotted Swami in the streets of Tiruvannamalai with torn clothes, unkempt hair and weak.   They embraced Him and forced Him to return to Kanchi but Swamy refused and moved away.   As their efforts failed, they approached the caretaker of a choultry in Tiruvannamalai and requested him to feed Swami whenever He came to the choultry.   After this they returned to Kanchi and a few months later Ramaswami Jyoshiar too departed from this world.   Narasimha Jyoshiar had a big family and could not manage to continue to live in Kanchi.  He shifted to Chennai along with his family and continued to visit Swami at Tiruvannamalai.

The three Lingas of Tiruvannamalai

Swami had no permanent residence in Tiruvannamalai and wandered all around the town.   He ate when he felt like and accepted food from anyone who offered Him.   He never slept during the nights and kept wandering.  Swami’s uncle Suryanarayana Shastri resided in Sannadhi Street in Tiruvannamalai.   He came to know that Swami was in town.   He began searching for Him and found Him near Mandapam which was located near Kinathur Thopu.  He was surprised to see swami praying to seven donkeys standing there.   He went up to Swami and asked Him the reason why He was worshipping donkeys, He replied to him that the donkeys were in fact seven Saptharishis (The seven famous Rishis).   He pointed to the donkeys and identified them by name as Agasthiar, Vashistar, Jamadakni and so on.   Swami then started going around the donkeys in Pradakshanam and prostrated before them.   His uncle tried to take Him home but Swami ran away from there.   Though Swami indulged in strange behaviour like praying to donkeys etc., the people in Tiruvannamalai never considered Him to be mad.   They perceived Him to be a great Gnayani.   Gradually, over time people’s regard, affection and devotion to Him grew and they started referring to Him as “Living God”.   He was also called a Great Yogi, Mahan and a Messenger of God and sometimes as “Linga”.  Tiruvannamalai is said to be inhabited by three Lingas – one is Arunachala, the second is Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi and the third is Swami Seshadri.

Swami’s appearance

Swami was neither short nor very tall.   He was handsome and had a smiling face.   His moonlike forehead had three creases as if three lines of sacred ash were applied to it.   His half open eyes were long and reddish but they were filled with love and mercy.   He would not focus His attention on any object for long and would rotate His eye balls frequently.   Only very few fortunate people have seen Him opening His eyes and when they did they never wanted to take their eyes from Him.   They used to see “Sri Krishna” in Swami’s face at that time.   He had long shoulder length hair that surrounded His beautiful conch shaped neck.   He had a broad chest, long arms and beautiful red feet.   His body had a golden hue.

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Swami’s dress

The beauty of Swami’s appearance was covered by dirty torn clothes.   These clothes can be compared to the dark clouds that cover the moon. The two pieces of cloth which adorned Swami’s body were one which was worn like a dhoti and the other draped around the shoulder like a shawl.   Even a new garment that was gifted to Swami would become dirty in a mere two hours as Swami was not particular as to where He sat and He also used to wipe His hands in His dhoti after a meal.    Sometimes a beggar would request Swami for a new dhoti that has just been gifted to Him and He would happily hand it over and would wear the beggar’s clothes in exchange.

Swami’s ways of walking and sitting

Swami used to walk very fast.   People trying to follow Him would often find that they had to run to keep pace with Him.   His movements were like the whirlwind and people felt that He was everywhere and it seemed that He could appear in fifty places in five minutes.   In certain instances, some people would say that they saw Him near Teradi while others would say that they saw him near the temple and some others would say that they saw Him near Sadhu Choultry.   Swami always used to sit in Swasthikasanam, an asana that was difficult for ordinary human beings to sit.

Swami’s Voice

Swami’s sweet voice remined people of the music flowing out of a flute or veena.   He always spoke softly and soothingly.   His replies to questions would be brief.   On some occasions he chose to remain silent and let the questions unanswered.   Swami used to heed to the request of true devotees and sing for them and the devotees felt like that they were listening to divine music.   On the occasions when Swami used to play the mrudangam sitting on a cot, it was as if Nandi Himself was playing it.

Swami’s Behaviour

Swami had strange mannerisms.   He would not stay still even for short periods of times.  When seated He would pick up an article and place it down several times.   If He was sitting facing East, He would suddenly change directions to face West, then South.  When seated on the ground He would jump forward.  He would then quickly get up and stare at the sky.  He would then move forward holding on to the pillars and would at times stare up and down at the pillars.  He used to walk restlessly staring at the sky.   Often He would rub His hands and keep them on His eyes.

On several occasions Swami would suddenly burst out laughing loudly and that too continuously for an hour.    It would appear that He was laughing at something wonderful. When people heard Him laugh like this, they would also laugh along with Him.   People commented that Swami could laugh like that happily as He was an extraordinary man without any worldly sufferings.   Sometimes He would move forward and backward with His hands on His hips, in dance like movements.

When Swami spotted a cat or a squirrel He would run behind them.  When they hid in a hole, Swami would also go near the hole staring at it for a long time.  He could be seen cleaning the

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roads by removing the stones.  When Swami saw any bullock cart or a cart carrying goods, He would jump on to the cart and declare that He was travelling in a coach.

Swami had free access to the shops in Tiruvannamalai.   He would enter the provision stores or sweet stalls or cloth stores and would throw the things on display all around.   At other times, He would play with the coins from the cash counter and would arrange them like a train.   Nobody minded His behaviour as they saw Him as God incarnate.   He would not like sinners to remain in His presence and would throw stones at them, if they come close to Him, despite His warning to stay away.   This behaviour frightened many persons.   With good natured people, Swami was very affectionate and could be seen hugging them.   He never differentiated between men and women and treated them alike.   He would even hug women and play with them like a child and would suddenly prostrate before them.   He would often talk something which nobody could understand and would address many women as Kalyani, as He felt that they reminded Him of His aunt Kalyani who was like a mother to Him.   The women did not mind this behaviour as they considered Him as God incarnate or a child.   He loved playing with the children and joined them in their games while they played in the compounds of their houses. 

Sometimes His behaviour resembled that of a madman.   On hot afternoons when everybody were inside their houses, Swami could be seen wandering outside without taking any rest and staring at the sun.   During night times He would go around the town without sleep, staring at the moon.  When it used to rain Swami would be very happy and would get fully drenched.  He would continue wearing the wet clothes over the next two or three days.   If there was a marriage procession, He would go along making humorous comments about the bride and the groom.   When He was asked to bless the couple, He would shout “100 years, 100 years” and would run away from there.  Swami also liked to accompany the funeral procession on the way to the graveyard.   He would prostrate before the dead body.

Some people used to force Him to have oil bath.   He would apply lot of oil and would then run away without having bath and would wander around the town in the same condition for ten or fifteen days.   These incidents go to prove that Swami was above body consciousness and did not pay heed to appearance.

Swami’s habits

Swami’s relationships with people could not be defined.  Even though He used to meet some people on a daily basis He would sometimes treat them like strangers.  He liked to keep distance from people.   People who had committed sins too preferred to stay away from Him as He would reveal their sinful acts.   There is an incident to prove this.   Once 5 to 6 people who were placed in high positions in the society visited Him.   Swami started running away from them saying that one person among them had an illicit relationship with his own daughter-in-law.   Over time, people found out that this was true.

Swami never encouraged people to get close to Him.  He was not comfortable in accepting gifts and food from everybody.   He was indifferent to everybody whether it was His relatives or devotees.

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Swami did not show any preference for food.   There were times when He would not eat or even drink water for months together.   On other occasions He would consume large, unimaginable quantities of food within two or three hours.   He was fresh and cheerful even when He went without food for two or three months.   He had an indifferent attitude to the food served to Him because He would mix all the different items served on His plate into one big ball.   Eating a small quantity of this food, He would scatter the rest around Him claiming that angels and devils are demanding food from Him.   Sometimes He scattered the food for animals and insects to eat.

Swami’s devotees were in the habit of taking milk for Swami in the nights.   As Swami used to wander around the town, they would wait near the Kambathu Ilayanar Koil (inside Arunachaleshwara Temple), as Swami would frequent this place.   When Swami reached there they would offer Him the milk.   Swami would take the milk, take a few sips and would spill the milk on the ground for the dogs to drink it.   The people were not offended by this behaviour and instead considered themselves blessed because He accepted the milk from their hands.

Swami also used to eat spoilt food that used to smell bad.   There was a beggar named Ramanathapuram Manikka Sami who was attached to Seshadri Swami.   After begging he would always offer a portion of his food to Swami before consuming any himself.   On the days when Manikka Sami could not find Seshadri Swami, he would not eat at all.   As he would still have the food, he would not go for begging and would eat the food he got the previous day.   He would beg only if he did not have any food leftover.   He would wait for Swami with the spoilt food and Swami would happily eat it.

   These incidents prove that Swami was not a mere mortal but was God Himself.

Swami’s bed and His sleeping habits

Though excess sleep is bad for health, at least a few hours of sleep in the night is necessary to get rid of fatigue and refresh oneself.    But Swami had conquered sleep.   He was never known to sleep and could be found moving around the town at night.   He would also spend His time meditating when other people were sleeping.

Once a businessman who was blessed by Swami ,  recovered Rs.10,000/- which he had written off as bad debt.   To express his gratitude he gifted Swami with a comfortable bed and pillow that was spread out in Kambathur Ilayanar temple where Swami spent most of his nights.   Swami accepted the gift but in a few days’ time the bed was covered with dust and food particles.   People visiting the temple would prostrate before this bed and take a small quantity of dirt accumulated on it, as prasadam.

Swami used to spend His afternoons in the Sadhu Choultry.    He occupied the room where the brooms and other cleaning materials were kept.   He used to enjoy the company of the red and black ants that were present in large numbers.

Swami’s strange talks

Swami adopted strange ways to avoid people gathering around Him.  A study of His behaviour shows that He would talk in a strange and peculiar way and very fast so that most people could

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not understand what He said.   He would say things that were totally unconnected.    The following paragraph depicts a monologue by Swami that was heard by a few devotees:

“Who was he and who is he?   The relative is speaking.   Are you in a hurry.   You have to do your job breathing through your mouth.   If you go to the town you can see the marriage ceremony.   Temple, tank, monkey and dog.   If you go on a pilgrimage what will the donkey do?   Sisters are wearing white saree, uncle, nephew, train and smoke from the train.   Englishman arranged.   Shouting throughout day and night.   He earned by weaving thread.   If you give excuses having oil in hair and body, will he listen?   Brinjals and pumpkins were brought to the shop.  Ravana carried away Seetha.  It was raining.   They felt hungry.   Srinivasan is residing on the top of the hill.   Hired cart.   Will you eat?   Cat is biting the rat.   Husband needs the wife.   Ten people here and ten people there.    Elephant is standing here.   Lord Ravana was a very sacred person.   You need to go to the shop and the festival.   Kalidas was a great poet”.

Sri Ramana Bhagawan

Sri Ramana Bhagawan was a spiritual guide to the people.   People who visited Him felt really blessed as they considered Him to be God.   One glimpse of Him and people were convinced of His unconditional love.

When Sri Ramana Bhagawan was staying at the top of the hill, a shepherd boy asked Him what He did for His food.   Sri Ramana Bhagawan replied that he depended on the food given to Him by others.   The shepherd boy promised to give Sri Ramana Bhawan his entire salary of one rupee and eight annas.   This shows that even the shepherd boy had abundant love for Sri Ramana Bhagawan.

One day Sri Ramana Bhagawan requested for a note book from one of His disciples.   The disciple forgot about this request.   A couple of days later an engineer visited Bhagawan and handed over a notebook to Him.   When Bhagawan wanted to know why he brought the note book the engineer explained that Bhagawan came in his dream and asked for a notebook.   In another instance a visitor from Coimbatore brought a big pot of ink saying that Bhagawan had appeared in his dream requesting for ink.   These examples prove that Sri Ramana is present in the souls of His devotees.

The relationship between Sri Seshadri Swami and Sri Ramana Bhagawan

Swami Seshadri had obtained Gyana Siddhi because of the penances He performed to Goddess Parvathi.    As He had the grace of the Goddess in full measures He used to call Himself as Parvathi Devi.   Swami referred to Sri Ramana Bhagawan as Subramanya.    Venkatachala Mudaliar a devotee also used to refer to them as mother and son.    This was because of an incidence experienced by Venkatachala Mudaliar.    When Mudaliar went for his bath in the Sivaganga Tank at noon, he heard some commotion in the Thousand Pillar Mandapam.   On investigating he found some boys were throwing stones inside the Pathala Eswaran Temple.   Suddenly Swami Seshadri emerged from Pathala Eswaran Temple laughing loudly.   Venkatachala Mudaliar was taken aback when he saw the Swami suddenly.   Swami

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told him not to be frightened and sent the boys away.   He then told Mudaliar that His son was meditating inside the cave.   Mudaliar asked Him with surprise that how Swami could have a child.   Swami replied to him saying that He was Parvathi Devi and pulled Mudaliar into the cave and showed him Sri Ramana Bhagawan meditating.   Bhagawan was not aware of His surroundings.   Insects and ants had eaten away a big portion of His thigh.   Venkatachala Mudaliar brought Sri Ramana Bhagawan out of the cave with the help of some men there.   Swami Seshadri patted Mudaliar’s back and asked “Did you see my son” after which He ran away from there.   This shows that Swami Seshadri considered Sri Ramana Bhagawan as His son and always cared for Him.

Swami was ten years elder to Bhagawan and had come to Tiruvannamalai before Him.   Some people referred to Swami as “Big Seshadri” and to Bhagawan as “Small Seshadri”.

Most of the saints were indifferent to the presence of people around them.   It did not make any difference to them if they were alone or surrounded by people.   However, some saints always preferred to be alone.   Dattatreya was one such saint.   He is known to have hid himself inside a tank for a whole month to avoid the disciples who always followed Him.    When He emerged from the tank, he is said to have emerged with a beautiful girl, so that people would despise Him and leave Him to meditate alone without any disturbance.   But this ploy did not work and disciples continued to follow Him.   Dattatreya then took to drinking.  On observing this the disciples left Him and finally Dattatreya was left in peace to meditate alone.   Swami Seshadri was like Dattatreya, who wished to be left alone.   Other saints like Vashistar and Janaka were always surrounded by people.

Bhakta’s opinion about Swami and Bhagawan

A few devotees of Swami and Bhagawan were approached for information about them.  These devotees revealed that Bhagawan too admired the way in which Swami had no awareness of His body and the fact that Swami was above everything.   Ramana openly admitted that He too would like to achieve that state of mind where He could be unaware of His body, movements etc.  As days passed Bhagawan too attained this state and was considered to be the most Supreme Saint among His contemporaries.

A small incident can be quoted to prove that Sri Ramana used to admire Swami Seshadri’s quality of not being aware of or not being interested in His body.   In the month of January 1928, a new sofa was presented to Bhagawan by His devotees.  He replied “you have brought the sofa for me and I am aware that I have to sit on it.   Am I so fortunate as Swami Seshadri to forget about my body”.   This shows that Swami Seshadri was looked upon by Sri Ramana with lot of reverence.

Swami Seshadri & Sri Ramana were one and the same.

Though Swami and Ramana had assumed two different forms and had slightly different characteristics, they were in reality one.   Only a few realised souls could make out this truth.   Out of the several incidents that can prove this truth, two incidents have been mentioned below:

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Lakshmi Ammal of Chettupat from Vada Arcot District was a great devotee of Sri Ramana.   She had not seen Seshadri Swami.   One day she had a desire to see Him and started searching for Swami.   After searching for six days, she found Him.   Though she was standing near Swami,she was praying to Sri Ramana.  At that time Swami commented “whether you pray to Sri Ramana or to me, both are the same.   Therefore do not get confused”.

Though M.K.Subramanya Shastri was an atheist, he was interested in meditation.   One day he approached Sri Ramana and asked Him if consuming Poornathi Lehiyam (a medicinal paste) would help him meditate effectively.   Sri Ramana categorically asked him not to eat the lehiyam at any time.  But Subramanya Shastri decided not to heed to Sri Ramana and ate the Poornathi Lehiyam to see if it increased his effectiveness in meditation.   Instead of receiving any benefits, it harmed him by making him sick and giddy.  When he could not bear the ill effects of the medicine, he remembered Seshadri Swami and wasted no time in approaching Him.   Subramanya Shastri went to the Kambathu Ilayanar temple as he was sure that Swami would be there.   Swami was talking to his devotees in his usual disconnected matter.   When He spotted Subramanya Shastri, He said “I asked you not to consume Poornathi Lehiyam.   Why did you eat it in spite of my warning?   The truth then dawned on Subramanya Shastri that both the Great Saints were one single entity.

Kavya Kanta Ganapathi Shastri and his experience

Sri Ganapathi Shastri had mastered “Panchakshara Mantram” and the four Vedas at a young age.  He had recited the Devi’s “Tara Mantra” one crore times and had obtained her full grace.   He was honoured with the title “Kavya Kanta” and was referred to as Kavya Kanta Ganapathi Shastri.   He arrived in Tiruvannamalai in the year 1903.    Realising the greatness of Sri Ramana, he sought Him out as a teacher.   He also realised the power of Swami and considered Him to be God Himself.   Just to test the devotees, Ganapathy Shastri would be open in his praise of Bhagawan and refer to Swami as a mad man.   When the devotees got angry on hearing this, he used to be happy because it proved that they understood the greatness of Swami.  Once he knew their devotion to Swami, he would reveal to them that he referred to Swami as mad man only to test their devotion.

Kavya Kanta Ganapathy Shastri always used to say that Swami was aware of all the happenings in the world.   Once Shastri was delivering a series of lectures on “Shakti”.   On the last day of the lecture a collection was made from the audience, to be presented to Shastri.   However, since Swami was also present on the occasion, the Taluka President Mr.Venkatasubbaiar handed over the money to Swami and told that though the money has been collected as a token of love and affection for Shastri, Swami could do as he pleased, with the money.  Swami immediately handed over the money to Kavya Kanta Shastri and quoted a few verses in Sanskrit that indicated Swami’s knowledge about upcoming marriage of Kavya Kanta Shastri’s son and Swami also blessed the couple.   Shastri was surprised because he had not revealed about his son’s marriage to Swami Seshadri.

Once Kavya Kanta Shastri and his friend E.S.Ramasami decided to start an association in the name of Sri Ramana and name the association “Sri Ramana Samithi”.   As good action should not be delayed, they immediately set out to meet Ramana who was residing on Arunachala hill.   One the way they met Swami Seshadri who asked “Are you starting an association?  Please go ahead”.   Kavya Kanta Shastri and Ramasami were taken aback by surprise.

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Swami and the businessmen

Everyday all the businessmen in Tiruvannamalai eagerly awaited the arrival of Swami but He was spotted only by  a lucky few.   Swami would visit the market area everyday and whenever He chose to enter a shop, the businessman would have unexpected profits on that day.    Every shopkeeper would beg Swami to come to his shop, but Swami would enter only two or three shops.   On entering the shops He would throw things displayed in the shop all around.   This behaviour did not upset the shopkeepers and they were only delighted because they knew that Swami’s action meant a full cash box for them, on that day.

Swami was fond of one Muthialu Chettiar, who had a provision and cloth store and would definitely visit these shops.   Swami treated these stores as His own shops.   Muthialu Chettiar was a good person.   Even when the shop assistants would steal from his shop, he would only warn them kindly not to repeat it.   He would never remove them from the job.  

Muthialu Chettiar would sell camphor from his provision shop.   He would hand over huge quantity of camphor for a very small price as he felt the camphor was used for the worship of Arunachala.  It was these qualities that endeared Muthialu Chettiar to Swami.   With the grace of Swami, Chettiar earned lakhs of rupees.

In one instance Swami took a full tin of ghee from Chettiar’s shop and poured it on the street.   That day Chettiar got back Rs.750 from a man to whom he had loaned the money.  He had lost all hopes of ever recovering that money from him.  One day Swami tore a silk saree from Chettiar’s shop and tied the pieces around the horns and tails of buffalos.  On that particular day Chettiar earned a profit of Rs.2000/-.

Mango Merchant

One day Swami went near the carts where mangoes were on sale and picked up a mango.   At that time the owner of the cart was away, leaving his assistant to look after the sales.   Had the owner been present he would have been overjoyed that Swami touched a fruit from his cart and would have offered Him many more.   But the assistant being new, was not aware of Swami’s powers and snatched the mango away from Swami after scolding Him.   Though people around him told him about Swami, he did not listen to them.   By evening all the fruits in the cart were decayed.   The owner was upset and reprimanded the assistant.

Murugan

Murugan, the owner of a bullock cart lived with his mother Unnamalai in a house situated between the Sadhu Choultry and the railway station.   Swami would occasionally visit Murugan’s house.    One day Swami came in while Murugan was taking his afternoon nap on the cement bench outside his house.   Unnamalai was very happy to see swami and asked him to sit.   Swami asked for Ganji to drink and had two glasses of it.    Unnamalai then woke her son up and asked him to take Swami’s blessings.   Swami asked Murugan why he was not at work and Murugan explained that since the summer afternoons were extremely hot, nobody ventured outside.   His business, therefore was very dull.   Swami then asked him to sell his bull and the cart.

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In the week after this, a distant relative of Murugan visited them and expressed his desire to give his only daughter in marriage to Murugan.   After the marriage, Murugan’s father-in-law who was reasonably well to do, requested Murugan and Unnamalai to settle down in Chennai.   Murugan was therefore forced to sell the bull and the cart.

Chockkalingam

Many barbers would search for Swami and offer to extend their services since having Swami as a customer would guarantee good earnings for them.   But Swami would more often, get up in the middle of the shave and run away.   He would be seen roaming the streets with half shaven face.   Chockkalingam, a barber by profession, had also experienced this many times.   Whenever he would extend his services to Swami, either the temple priest or the provision store owner Kuppuswami Pillai would pay the charges on behalf of Swami.   One day Swami approached Chockalingam voluntarily and asked to be shaved.   The people around Swami asked Him not to run away in the middle.   Swami agreed to this and had His head shaved fully.   Nobody paid Chockalingam for this but in the evening he found a five rupee note on the road.

Alamelu Ammal – the prostitute

Alamelu, a prostitute was standing beneath a tree when Swami passed by.   She prostrated before Him.    Swamy picked up a flower lying on the road and threw it on her head by way of blessing.   In a week’s time Alamelu met a rich man and earned a lot of money.

There are many more incidents to prove that those who were graced by Swami prospered in their business and those who treated Swami badly suffered in their lives.

Swami’s Grace

Nobody could explain fully or realise the power of His grace.   A grace so powerful that it could change the fate of a person.   Since Swami as Himself God, every person who saw Him or was seen by Him felt the effects of His grace.   When Swami’s grace is so abundant, it seems petty to talk about those who were blessed with promotions in work or increase in salary but a few examples are given below:

Divan Bahadur K Sundaram Chettiar – Ex-High Court Judge.

Diwan Bahadur K Sundaram Chettiar was posted as a Judge in Tiruvannamalai in the years 1909 and 1910.   Swami gave him a pleasant surprise by visiting his house.   The judge asked Swami to have lunch in his house.   As usual Swami mixed all the items served and was playing with it.   The Judge presented Swami with a new dhoti and towel.  Swami wore them and folded His old clothes and placed it over the Judge’s head several times.  

The judge was posted in different districts but was then promoted as High Court Judge.   He acquired great fame in his profession.   There is no need to emphasise the fact that the Judge reached this high position only because of Swami’s grace.

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Sivaprakasha Mudaliar – Retired Prosecuting Sub-Inspector of Police

Sivaprakasa Mudaliar an ardent devotee of Swami worked in the police department and earned a salary of Rs.70/- per month.   One day on his way to the Circle Inspector’s house, he met Swami.   Swami told him “I will give you Rs.10/-.   Will you accept it?”   Sivaprakasha Mudaliar understood that Swami was talking about his salary increase but told Swami that he did not share a good relationship with his superior and wondered how he would get an increase.   Swami replied that it did not matter if the superior did not recommend the increase.   He asked Mudaliar if he would accept Rs.10 from him.   Mudaliar extended his hand to accept the money.   Swamy removed the police cap from Mudaliar’s head and garlanded him with His dirty shawl.   Soon Swami and Mudaliar reached the Circle Inspector’s house when Mudaliar was informed about his salary increase.

When Mudaliar asked Swami a doubt in Vedanta, Swami placed back the cap he had removed from Mudaliar’s head and took back the shawl saying “This is the reason people should avoid friendship with policemen.   They ask unnecessary questions”.   On the third day after this incident Mudaliar got an increment letter that his salary has been increased from Rs.70 to Rs.80.  

Venkatarama Iyer – Teacher, Danish Mission High School

The higher authorities of the Danish School had some grouse against Venkatarama Iyer, the Vice Principal and decided to suspend him for three months and withhold his salary.   A few authorities were of the opinion that he should be removed from the service after being given three months’ notice.   It was a real agony for Venkatarama Iyer to attend the school under these circumstances.

One day as Swami was walking near Bootha Narayana Temple, Venkatarama Iyer removed his slippers and prostrated before Him.   Swami took his slippers and hit him hard on his head.   Venkatarama Iyers was taken aback but went to the school, convinced that the incident was for good.   On reaching his room, he found an envelope on his table and feared that he had received his suspension orders.   Gathering enough courage he opened the envelope and to his pleasant surprise found that it was a letter promoting him as the Principal of the school.   He was overjoyed and breathless with happiness.  Suddenly he realised that this was because Swami hit him on his head.

Venkatarama Iyer built a house in Sannadhi Street and continued to live there happily because of Swami’s grace.

K.K.Iravadam Iyer

Iravadam Iyer was a Botany lecturer in Tirupathi Devasthanam College in Vellore.   He was a very religious person and had a deep desire to get initiated by a great saint.   His desire remained unfulfilled for a very long time and he started to feel that it would not happen in this life time.

He visited Tiruvannamalai to seek the blessings of Sri Ramana Maharishi and Kavya Kanata Ganapathy Shastri.   On his way he stopped at a coffee shop, where Swami made an unexpected entrance.   Swami took some sweets from the counter, eating some Himself,

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He handed over the rest to Iravadam Iyer.   Iyer’s joy knew no bounds as he was longing to have a darshan of Swami.   He ate the sweets and prostrated before Swami.   Iyer felt that Swami entered the shop only to bless him.   He then left to visit Kavya Kanta Ganapathi Shastri and prostrated before him and he was initiated by Ganapathi Shastri to Devi’s “Panchadasakshari” mantra.   This was exactly what Iyer had desired and when his desire was full-filled he knew that it was only because of the blessings of Swami.   Within a week’s time from his return from Tiruvannamalai, he also received an increase in salary.

The hired labourer

One day when a fifteen year old labourer boy picked up a mango kernel thrown by Swami, Swami got annoyed and pulled the boy’s hair, pushed him down and kicked him.   The boy started bleeding and was consoled by onlookers.  A month later the boy was seen walking around in new clothes.  He was also wearing a cap and a watch.  On enquiry it was known that he was no longer a hired labourer working for meagre amounts but was employed in a farm at a salary of Rs.15/- per month.

B.V.Narasimha Swami

Narasimha Swami was a famous lawyer from Salem.   He was also a representative on various Government bodies and served the country in different ways.  In a sad incident two of his children fell into a well when they were playing and died.   After this incident Narasimha Swami became very detached and his whole personality changed.   He longed for the company of spiritual people and became an ardent devotee of Sri Ramana.   Though he lived with his wife, other children and relatives, he lived like a sanyasi.   In 1924, he came to Tiruvannamalai along with his friends to have a darshan of Swami and Sri Ramana Maharishi.   On that visit he had only a fleeting darshan of Swami but even that momentary glimpse helped him to become more detached from worldly activities.   He soon left Salem and went on a pilgrimage to almost all holy places in India.   He undertook the work of writing the biographies of saints like Sri Ramana, Sakkori Baba and Sai Baba.  He translated many of Sri Ramana’s books into English.   He then started residing in an ashram located in Palakothu, close to Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai where he practiced meditation. 

Though Narasimha Swami sincerely longed to be close to Swami, he found Swami eluding him.  Narasimha Swami expressed his concerns to Brahmashri Kuzhumanai Narayana Shastrigal at their first meeting.   Shastrigal consoled him and advised him to chant Sri Rama’s name always to draw Swami towards him.   Following his advise Narasimha Swami sat in a shop chanting Sri Rama’s name, when to his pleasant surprise he saw Swami standing next to him.   Swami voluntarily went to those who chant Sri Rama’s name.

T.V.Subramania Iyer

Subramaniya Iyer was a clerk in Tiruvannamalai’s Taluka Board.   He used to bathe before sun rise and chant the Gayathri Mantram regularly.   He had a great devotion for Swami.   Swami would always accept whatever Iyer offered Him to eat.

Once Subramania Iyer had a desire to bathe in the Ganges and asked his boss Venkatasubbaiar for six month’s leave to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi.  But Venkatasubbair doubted his intentions and was under the impression that Subramania Iyer is asking for leave to cover up his misdeed

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of misappropriating some money.  So he started writing a memo to the higher authorities about this.   At that time Swami appeared before him and told him that he was trying to spoil the life of a good person and if he does so there will be a mishap in his house.  Venkatasubbair heard this and fell ill.   Swami asked Subramania Iyer to leave his present job.  Within few months, he got a good job in Tiruchirapalli.

Bhanukavi

Bhanukavi was one of the most ardent devotees of Swami.   He used to forget himself when he went to see Swami.   The literary circles of Tiruvannamalai had an association that conducted discourses.   A few persons were invited to address a gathering where Chidambaram Sri Dhandapani Dikshidar was to preside over the meeting.   Bhanukavi was among those chosen to address the gathering.   Two vidhwans spoke before Bhanukavi and when it was Bhanukavi’s turn, a few people passed some adverse remarks about him in the crowd.   This made Bhanukavi nervous and he was unable to start the discourse and the crowd became impatient.   At that time Swami reached the spot and the crowd rose to their feet as a mark of respect.  Bhanukavi fell on Swami’s feet and started crying.   Swami just laughed loudly and left the hall.   Immediately Bhanukavi started his speech and left the audience spellbound with his marvellous discourse.   Sri Dhandapani Dikshidar found no words to praise Bhanukavi.   The crowd knew that it was Saraswathi Devi herself who had graced Bhanukavi on the instructions of Swami and made him speak.

S.Parasurama Iyer

In the year 1926, Parasurama Iyer received a telegram from his son-in-law who resided in Srivilliputtur requesting him to come immediately as his daughter was dangerously ill after the delivery of a child and there was no hope of recovery.   On receiving this telegram he fainted.  His wife was inconsolable.   He was a devotee of Swami and decided to take some sacred ash from Him before visiting his daughter.   He met Swami on the way.   Swami said “that mad woman in your house is crying for nothing.   You go back home.  Nothing has happened.   Your daughter is alright now.   Parasumama Iyer was very happy.  He went home and conveyed the message of Swami, to his wife.    Their faith in Swami was so great that they did not go to see the daughter.   In two days’ time they got a letter informing them that their daughter has recovered.

Krishnasami Shastriyar

Krishnasami was a distant relative of Swami and was a pious person.   He was a bhakta of Lord Subramanya.   He was a great devotee of Swami.   One day when he was visiting Swami, Swami applied the sacred ash and kumkum all over his body and asked him to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi and Rameshwaram.   Krishnaswami told Swami that he did not have enough funds to undertake the journey.   Swami assured him that he will get the funds.   Krishnasami then went to meet the Zamindar of Vettavalam and told him what happened.  The Zamindar immediately gave him Rs.100/- and Krishnasami went on his pilgrimage.   He returned after two months and told Swami about the details of his pilgrimage.  Swami blessed him and also predicted that his wife will deliver a son.   Krishnasami had bought a lottery ticket and he won a motorcycle against it.

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Krishnasami requested the lottery company to give him cash instead of the motorcycle.  He was given Rs.1,100.   In a year’s time his wife delivered a baby boy.

Rajamanickam Ammal

Rajamanickam Ammal had no children and came to Swami to pray to Him.   Swami asked her to go saying that she was not blessed to have children.   She was adamant and insisted on getting blessed.   Swami got angry and went away.   Rajamanickam Ammal lived with her husband for 15 years but she never had any children.

Devotees experiences of getting rid of their diseases by Swami’s grace

Swami used to save His devotees from all kinds of diseases.  Several cases have been recorded where His blessings cured people of illness like arthritis, severe cough, tuberculosis leprosy, snake bites, scorpion bites etc.   Any kind of disease would disappear when the devotees approached Swami.   Even those possessed by evil spirits were cured with His blessings.   Swami’s way of curing them was strange.   He would give the patients a portion of the food or fruit consumed by Him.   At other times He would refer to some medicinal plants name and would ask the patient to eat it.  Though His methods were unorthodox, the devotees followed them will full faith and were cured.   Even allopathic doctors seeing the effectiveness of these cures would use the same medicinal plants that were referred by Swami.

Of the numerous instances recorded, a few have been mentioned below as recording everything would run into several pages.

Krishnasami Shastriar

Krishnasami Shastriar was a distant relative of Swami.    He resided in Thandari village near Tiruvannamalai.   Once his wife Alamelu was suffering from a strange disease, where her whole body was swollen and she started vomiting worms.   The doctors gave up hope.   A frightened Krishnasami hired a cart and rushed his wife to Tiruvannamalai to seek the blessings of Swami.   Krishnasami Shastriar encountered Swami on the way and fell at His feet and cried asking Him to save his wife.   Swami boarded the cart from behind, walked over Alamelu ammal and started riding the cart very fast.   He stopped near Sadhu Choultry and got down.   He scattered two handful of mud inside the cart.   He put a handful of mud in her mouth and asked her to eat it.  Then He gave her three handful of mud to apply on her body for three days.   She was cured in three days time.

Sengalvarayan

In 1899, when Sengalvarayan, a pleader in the court of Tiruvannamalai retired.  He then  wore  kaavi vasthra and started serving Swami as His disciple.   He was a good friend of Rau Bahadur Shiva Chidambaram Pillai, who was the Deputy Superintendent.   Once Pillai’s daughter had high fever and the temperature never came down.   No cure could be found and Pillai cried inconsolably to Sengalvarayan who requested Swami to bless the child.   Swami asked him to pray to Lord Muruga.  Sengalvarayan wrote a hymn and kept it at the feet of Swami.   Swami asked him to recite it inside the temple.   When he did it 5 to 6 times, Swami told him that the child would be all right the next morning.

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In another instance Pillai’s younger daughter fainted after vomiting a whole night.   Sengalvarayan came running to Swami who advised to give the child a gooseberry and a chilly.   As the child was only three years old, Swami directed Sengalvarayan to burn the chilly and gooseberry and mix the ashes in water and make the child drink it.   This was done and the child was cured.

Once Sengalvarayan suffered from a swelling in his knees and could not walk.   When he showed it to Swami, Swami massaged his knees and told him that he would be all right.   In just two hours time, the swelling disappeared and Sengalvarayan could walk as usual.

Etchammal

Etchammal was a devotee of Swami.   Swami used to visit her house occasionally.   Once both Etchammal and her grandchild fell very ill when Etchammal’s daughter requested Swami to come home.   Swami went to their house and asked curd rice to be brought.  He ate a morsel from it and asked Etchammal and the grandchild to eat the remaining.   They ate it and were immediately cured.

In another instance Etchammal’s grandson Ramanan had sprained his leg and was unable to walk.  When Etchammal brought him to Swami, Swami applied a little mud on Ramanan’s leg and the boy was able to walk immediately.

Arumuga Padayachi

Arumuga Padayachi was poor and he suddenly got leprosy.   He was shunned by his relatives.   He heard about Swami and came to Thiruvannamalai.   He followed Swami everywhere and finally one day caught hold of Swami’s feet.   Swamy was very angry and hit him on his head with a stone.   Arumuga Padayachi was hurt, started bleeding and fainted.   A month after this incident he was cured.   He went back to his village, got married and had three children.   He also became rich by farming.

Consumption of poison by Swami

Once while Swami was in Venkatasubbaiar’s house, He found two bottles in the almirah – one containing chlorodyne which was used for cholera and the other containing tincture iodine – both poisonous if consumed internally.   Swami drank the contents of both the bottles and also poured some on His head.   Venkatasubbaiar was alarmed and started to find ways and means to save Swami.   However, Swami smiled as if he had just eaten porridge.   All the people of Tiruvannamalai talked about this incident for a long time.

“Gnyana Drishti”

Gnayana Dhrishti is the power of knowing the past, present and the future.   It is also the power of knowing others’ minds.   With this power one can see everything in this world.   While Gods and angles had this power naturally, great saints acquired this by the power of their meditation.

Swami had acquired this power at a very young age.   A few incidents have been selected to show that Swami had this power.   The comprehensive list of all incidents is too long to be presented in this book.

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Khuzumani Shastri brought four garlands of flowers each costing quarter anna.   He offered one to Shiva, one to Parvathi and one to Ramana.   The fourth, he wanted to offer to Swami but could not find Him.   At 9.00 P.M. that night he saw Swami in Kambathu Ilayanar Temple and prostrated before him.   At that time Swami told that Shastri should offer Him the flowers even if he had paid only a quarter anna for them, as it was his intention that counted.   Khuzumani Shastri could not control his tears on hearing this.   He then offered the flower which he had kept tied in a cloth.

Thirupugazh Swamiar had the grace of Lord Subramanya and became well versed in all the Thirupugazh though he was illiterate.    The good deeds done by him in his previous births enabled him to learn all the songs by heart.   Those who heard him sing would forget themselves.   He wanted to be a disciple of Swami and came to Tiruvannamalai.   When he prostrated before Swami, Swami asked him to continue singing.    After meeting Swami, he went to Vallimalai and started meditating.

Sengalvarayan took to sanyas and reached Tiruvannamalai in search of a guru.   He stayed in Pavazha Kundru for three days praying to Lord Subramanya to guide him to a guru.   On the fourth day he was fasting and went to Arunachala Temple in the evening.   There he met Swami in Kambathu Ilayanar Temple and prostrated before Him.  Swami held his hand and asked him with concern as to why he had not taken any food.   Sengalvarayan moved by Swami’s concern started crying.   Swami asked Sengalvarayan to continue living in the temple.

Karuppanna Swami who was in Tiruvannamalai used to eat only leaves for food.   Sometimes he also enjoyed eating a coconut.    One day he could not get any fresh leaves to eat.  He went to Swami hoping he would get a coconut to eat.   Swami asked him to go to a nearby coconut shop.  On that particular day, the shop keeper had taken a vow to give two coconuts to any pious person who came there.   When he saw Karuppanna Swami he gave him two coconuts.

One day Swami was sitting outside R.Arthanari Iyer’s house.   Arthanari Iyer thought to himself that he should take a phot of Swami in that pose and keep it in his pooja room.   Immediately Swami said “Venkatasubbaiar has a few photos of mine.  You could get one from him.   Iyer was surprised to hear this.   He later took a photo from Venkatasubbaiar.

T.K.Ramabadra Sharma was on his way to Shringa Giri and was wondering whether he should also visit Arani as his sister was to deliver around that time.   While he was worrying about the decision, Swami appeared before him and told him not to worry as his sister had already delivered a baby boy.  Sharma was amazed and happy.

Thiruvenkata Mudaliar from Gunampet was sitting in Anna Chattiram and chanting Panchakshara Mantram mentally.   Swami who came there, patted his back and asked him to chant Rama Japam instead of Panchakshara Mantram.

Swami’s Knowledge beyond Limits

Swami had Gnyana Dhrishti pertaining not only to human beings of this world but also of Gods and Goddesses.   He was also aware of the dreams of people.   There are many instances to prove this and a few are given below:

Srirangam Sundaram Pillai was a bachelor.   In his youth, Pillai was interested in women but at a later stage he took an aversion to worldly pleasures and took to sanyas and changed his name to Vamadevar.   When he was young an interesting incident occurred.  Pillai was friendly

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with a prostitute from Dindugal.   He had plans to marry her and gifted her ornaments worth Rs,10,000/-.   He brought her to Tiruvannamalai with him to settle down.   Pillai used to visit Swami very often as he had great regards for Him.   One day Pillai’s cook stole the ornaments worth Rs.10,000/- and hid them in a gutter.   When the lady in Pillai’s house could not find the ornaments, she came running to Swami for help.   The cook accompanied her and pretended that he was worried too.   However, Swami slapped him and asked him to remove the ornaments from the gutter and return them to the lady.   But the cook feigned ignorance and Swami asked him if he would like to wear silver bangles, referring to the handcuffs.   Pillai then lodged a police complaint and the cook had to return the ornaments to the lady.

T.S.Jagadisha Iyer hailed from Silaipandal village but lived in Tiruvannamalai.   He used to travel often between the two places that was six kilometres apart.   Jagdish Iyer had a Purohit living in his house at Silaipandal village who used to perform the daily pooja.   Everybody in his house had a great regard and respect for him.   Unfortunately due to his past birth’s ill effects, the purohit always thought of stealing.   On two occasions he stole Rs.100/- each and once a necklace worth 8 sovereigns.   He hid them under the statue of the village deity.   Jagdish Iyer searched for the lost items for about 3 months and lost hope.   Once he was on his way to Silaipandal from Tiruvannamalai when Swami appeared before his cart and asked him if He could accompany him.   Jagdish Iyer readily agreed and narrated the incidents of theft to Swami.   Swami indicated to Jagdish Iyer that he was accompanying him, only to solve this problem and the lost items would soon be recovered.   On nearing Jagdish Iyer’s house, Swami ran away saying that there was a thief inside the house.   At that time, a few influential people in the village came to Jagdish Iyer and told him that the Purohit is moving around the temple in the village in a suspicious manner.   Then they all confronted the Purohit and threatened him of dire consequences if he does not tell the truth about the missing items.  The Purohit then had to confess about stealing and returned the money and the necklace.

In the forty years that Swami lived in Tiruvannamalai, he left only once to Silaipandal and for approximately one hour. 

Alamelu Ammal, sister of Lawyer Narasingha Rao lived in Rangoon.  She fell sick after delivering a baby and came to Tiruvannamalai to stay in her brother’s house.   During this time, Swami came to their house, sat next to Alamelu Ammal and touched her.   She got frightened and started screaming.  Narasingha Rao came out and shouted at Swami.   That night Alamelu Ammal died.

Adiannamalai Natesa Iyer’s wife was pregnant.   Swami told him that he would get a son with three lines on his forehead (like a vaishnavite who wears the castemark) and that became true.

Sundara Sastriyar was a scholar and well versed in the Vedas.  He was a great devotee of Parashakti and Swami.   One day he came to see Swami and Swami told him that his wife would give birth to a son who would grow up to be a good natured and pious person.   He asked Shastriyar to recite Lalitha Sahasranamam continuously.   By Swami’s grace, Sundara Shastriyar was blessed with a son.  That child’s birth star was Hastam as per Swami and hence he was named Seshadri.

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Pudupalayam Appavu Chettiar built a chariot for Arunchaleshwara.   Before the chariot could be taken on a procession, Appavu Chettiar wanted to seek the blessings of Swami.   Swami came near the chariot and told that the chariot would be destroyed shortly as it has Devi Lakshmi’s curse.   Everybody was very sad on hearing this.  After three years the chariot was destroyed in a fire caused by thunder.

Meyappa Chettiar had made arrangements for lighting up Arunachaleshwara Temple.   One evening he was proceeding towards the temple to switch on the motor that powered the lights.   Swami saw him on the way and warned him that the motor would not start.   Ignoring this warning, Meyappa Chettiar proceeded towards the temple but on reaching there he discovered that the motor would indeed not start.   He returned to Swami and requested Him to set the matter right.   When Swami touched the motor and prostrated before it, the motor started.

Once Swami indicated to Kuzhumani Narayana Shastrigal that his brother would die but then He also consoled him.   After four months, Shastrigal got the news that one of his brothers who was close to him had passed away.

Kumara Pillai’s first wife died after 10 years of marriage without conceiving any children.   He remarried, but within a year his second wife also died.   Then Kumara Pillai met two girls – one from Thirukovilur and the other from Polur.   He wanted to marry the girl from Polur as she was rich and beautiful.   But before making a decision he wanted to get Swamy’s advice.   As soon as he approached Swami, Swami said that he should marry the crow from Thirukovilur (meaning the dark girl) and not the parrot from Polur.   Kumara Pillai was taken aback as he had received the answer even before he could pose his question.    Kumara Pillai married the girl from Thirukovilur, gave birth to a child and lived happily.

A businessman from Puducherry came to see Swami as he was suffering from Leprosy.   He was unable to meet Swami and hence Ramaswami Bhagavathar, T.V.Subramania Iyer and V.Krishnaswami Iyer met Swami on his behalf and requested for a cure.   Swami said that by eating the Suvanagandhi plant, he would get partially cured.   There was no hope for a complete cure as the man was a miser.   Nobody knew where to find Suvanagandhi plant and Swami said that it was available on the banks of Ganges, 3 miles away from Kashi.   Venkatasubbaiar referred to a Sanskrit/English dictionary and found that Suvanagandhi was actually available near Kashi.   Everybody was surprised because Swami knew the whereabouts of that medicine even though He had never visited Kashi.

Chettiar, the owner of anna chattiram helped people financially when they wanted to visit Kashi.   He would bear the expenses of their travel and stay there.   Shankarananda Swami from Travancore wanted to visit Kashi and requested Swami to recommend his case to Chettiar.   Swami told Shankarananda Swami to rush to the railway station where Chettiar was boarding a cart and request him for the favour.   When Shankarananada Swami reached the station he found Chettiar getting into a cart.  He went near Chettiar and asked him for the favour.  His request was readily granted.  Infact Chettiar made arrangements for Shankarananda Swami to stay in Kashi for one year though his request was only for 10 days.

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Thiruvenkita Mudaliar brought three Laddus (a kind of sweet) from a marriage hall and had kept them in the kitchen.   Swami who came to his house in the evening asked him to get the sweets.   Mudaliar knew that if he gave Swami all the three sweets, He would not eat them but scatter them on the ground.   Hence he gave Swami only one Laddu.   But Swami insisted that he brings the other two also and as was expected he scattered bits of sweet everywhere and left the place.

Kannadi Swami who was staying inside one of the caves in the mountain had hidden a lot of Mysorepack (a kind of sweet) in a pot.  One day Swami who was fully drenched in rain came to the cave and said that He liked Mysorepack a lot.   Kannadi Swami was surprised and offered Swami the sweet.

S.Jayarama Mudaliar and his wife were great devotees of Swami.   They considered the service they offered to Swami as service rendered to God.   They would offer milk everyday with a lot of love and affection.   On one Chandra Grahana day, people were supposed to take food only after 10’o clock in the night.   Many people brought offerings of food for Swami on that day.   Swami was at Chaddachi’s house and he refused all their offerings and asked them to leave.   Only Jayarama Mudaliar who was with Swami since morning was left behind.   Swami asked him to bring rice, rasam and coconut chutney.   Chadachi was making fun of Swami as he was asking for simple food after refusing the many delicacies brought by other people.   Jayarama Mudaliar hurried home and was surprised to see that his wife had made rice, rasam and chutney.

In another instance Jayarama Mudaliar’s wife brought milk for Swami.   Swami drank the milk and asked her not to go back to her house as there was a snake in there.   After two hours He asked her to return as the snake had been beaten to death by somebody.   After she reached home she was told that a snake had come in and that it was beaten to death.

Once when Jayarama Mudaliar brought milk for Swami, Swami asked him for a mango.  Jayarama Mudaliar told Swami that it was not the season for mangoes but Swami insisted on eating a mango before drinking the milk.  Jayarama Mudaliar went to the market and was astonished to find a single mango in one of the shops.   He brought this for Swami.

Manicka Sami used to sleep a lot even during the day.  Swami used to tell him not to sleep so much.  Once Manicka Sami was sleeping from morning 9 am till 2 in the noon.   Then Swami made him dream of Yama who was shouting and asking his dutas to tie Manicka Sami and drag him to hell.   Manicka Sami in his dream cried and prayed to Swami and Swami asked Yama to leave him.   After this dream Manicka Sami got up and was sweating.   Swami asked him jokingly as to what the Yama did to him in his dream.  After this Manicka Sami stopped sleeping during the day.

Sengalvarayan was a devotee of Lord Ganapathi.  One day he was talking with Swami for a long time in the night and Swami asked him to sleep in Gambathu Ilayanar Temple.   Then Sengalvaryan dreamt of Ganapathy with a big palm tree as his trunk and He was playing with His mother Parvathi.   When he woke up he was very happy that he could see both Lord Ganapathy and His mother in the dream.   In the morning Swami asked him did Lord Ganapathy whom he saw in the dream had a trunk like a big palm tree.   On hearing this Sengalvarayan was surprised as he had not discussed his dream with Swami.

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Sub-Registrar Sundaresa Chettiar had two daughters – Parvathi Bai and Janaki Bai.   These two daughters were ardent devotees of Swami.  They used to follow Swami wherever He went.  Once Janaki Bai dreamt that Parvathi was drowning in a river and Swami pulled her back.   When Janaki told about this dream to her parents, they all went to see Swami.   As soon as they reached, Swami told Janaki the river Sivaganga is very deep and they should be very careful when they go to that river.

Swami used to prostrate before the dead bodies when they were being taken to the graveyard.   It is not a must that those who die would reach a different loka as soon as they die.   They may travel in different lokas in between.   Swami was able to see the different souls in different positions.  

Meenambal was Kuppuswamy Kurukkal’s mother.   She was suffering from tuberculosis.   Kuppusway Kurukkal’s mother-in-law Swarnamba was also staying with him and she was totally blind.   One day Swarnamba was holding Meenambal on her lap when Meenambal died.   Since Swaramba was blind she did not realise it.   After half an hour Swami stood near Vallala Maharaja’s Gopuram and shouted that Meenambal was going to heaven.   When people heard this, they informed Kurukkal.

Polur was 10 miles away from Tiruvannamalai and Sri Vittoba Swami died there.   Swami was shouting and running through the streets of Tiruvannamalai saying that Vittoba was going.   Swami was shouting like this at around 6‘o clock in the morning.   By 11 am they got the news that Sri Vittoba had actually passed away.

Adiannamalai Natesa Iyer was related to Swami.  Once his son who was five years old fell very sick, had measles and lost his sight.   Natesa Iyer went crying to Swami when Swami asked him to leave the boy in the temple in Adiannamalai.  After the pooja in the night the boy was left inside the temple.  In the morning when they did pooja and opened the door, they found that the boy had regained his sight.   This proves that Swami is actually Parvathi Devi.

Once the chariot which was carrying Arunachaleshwara’s idol in procession went into a ditch on the road and could not be moved even though many people tried to pull it.   At that time Swami came there touched the wheel of the chariot in two or three places and then pulled it.   To everybody’s surprise the chariot started moving smoothly.

Venkatraman a 15 year old boy was a great devotee of Devi.   Once when he was going to the temple, Swami appeared before him and asked as to where he was heading.   He said that he was going to the temple for a darshan of Devi.   Swami asked the boy to look at Him and said that the boy can see Devi in Him.   Swami asked him to describe how Devi was appearing to him.   The boy said that She was wearing an  ellow saree, jasmine flowers in her neck, dazzling crown on her head.   Swami then asked him to go to the temple and the boy actually saw Devi as he described to Swami.

A Sourashtra couple in Madurai was very sad that they could not bear a child.  The husband was a great devotee of Madurai Meenakshi and used to pray to her.  One day Madurai Meenakshi appeared in his dream and asked him to visit Swami in Tiruvannamalai.   The couple came to Tiruvannamalai and when they met Swami, Swami asked them whether Meenakshi sent them to him.   They were very surprised.   Swami made a knot of the husband’s

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dhoti and the wife’s saree and asked them to go back to Madurai and blessed them saying that they will have a child.   The couple gave birth to a baby boy and the child was named Seshadri.   They used to visit Tiruvannamalai every year with the child to take Swami’s blessings.

E.S.Ramaswami Shartriar was employed as a Sub-Magistrate in Tiruvannamalai.   He had studied Vedas and was doing meditation daily for long hours to attain self-realisation.   But he could not succeed and was struggling in this practice.   One day as usual at 4 am while he was meditating, Swami knocked his door and asked him what he was doing.   Ramaswami Shastriar told him that he was struggling to meditate without any outside thoughts and was failing in his mission.   At that time Swami inserted two of his fingers into his throat and pressed his tongue when Shastriar had a very blissful experience.   He could open his eyes only after half-an-hour and Swami told him that in future he will not have problem in meditating blissfully.  

Shivaprakasha Mudaliar was the Police Prosecuting Inspector of Tiruvannamalai.   Chittoor Murugesa Mudaliar was his relative.  Murugesa Mudaliar was a very pious person.   He used to sing “Nalayira Divyaprabandam” in a very melodious voice with full of devotion.   Shivaprakasa Mudaliar used to tell about Swami to him whenever they used to meet.   On hearing these, Murugesa Mudaliar was very keen to meet Swami.   Murugesa Mudaliar also was very interested in self-realisation.   He came to Thiruvannamalai and used to visit Swami both in the morning and evening and requested him to bless him to have self-realisation.   Swami knew that he was a very good soul and he was really interested in attaining self-realisation.   One day he asked him to sit inside the Kambathu Ilayanar Temple and pressed his head with His right hand.   Immediately Murugesa Mudaliar attained self-realisation and he started to dance and run here and there shouting Swami’s name and the Rama Mantram.   He started running in the street not being aware of his dhoti slipping away from his hip.   He started roaming around the streets of Tiruvannamalai like this.   His relatives came and cried to Swami requesting Him to make Mudaliar a normal person.   Swami told them that he was a sincere bhakta, asked to show him the way for self-realisation.  I showed him the way and like a camphor to fire, he got it.   Swami said that it will take a few days for Mudaliar to come to normalcy.   Mudaliar became normal after a few days and he became a big Gnyani in Chittoor.

There are numerous incidents like these to be written which will go into a number of pages.   I have attempted to just give a very few incidents which happened .

Here I have to give my own experience.   My husband and I are great devotees of Swami and used to visit Swami Seshadri’s ashram at Tiruvannamalai.   Before starting any new business or any important events at home we used to take the relevant papers to Swamy’s Ashram and place it at the feet of Swamy’s Samadhi.    About 20 years back my husband built a small complex and before starting the building, we wanted to take the plan etc., to Tiruvannamalai but somehow could not travel.   We decided to keep the papers at the Ganesha Temple which we visit in Bangalore often.   When we went to the temple, the usual Gurukkal who used to do the pooja was not there and instead a small boy of about 10 years old was there.   When we asked him whether he could do the archanai, he said yes.   Then I asked him his name.   He told his name was Seshadri.   My husband and I were so surprised.   Such is the grace of Swamy Seshadri.

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Swamy lived in Tiruvannamalai for forty years blessing many people, giving upadeshams to many, helping many to lead a spiritual life.   He now wished to leave this human form.   It was “karthikai” month and the year was 1929.   Swamy went to Subbalakshmi’s house and told her that people are troubling him too much and so He was thinking of building a new house and do yoga practice there.   He also told her that He would act as per her advice.   The inner meaning of this was that He had fulfilled His duties in this world and that He would like to leave this human form.   But Subbalakshmi could not understand the inner meaning.  So she told Swami that Swami was not even aware of His dhoti falling down sometimes and He roams around the streets.   Would He be able to built a new house and do yoga.  So saying she asked Him to leave her.    But Swamy never kept quiet.  He kept on asking her the same question again and again for two or three days continuously.  After three days she suspected that there was some inner meaning in His question and told him that He could built a new house and do yoga.   Swami told her that, that was his opinion also and left her house.  After that he stopped going to her house.   Swami considered all the ladies as the form of Parashakthi and it is assumed that he was waiting for Parashathi’s orders to leave His human form.

After a few days the devotees of Swami in Tiruvannamalai wanted to do abhishekam and alankaram to Swami and then photograph Him.   First they arranged to shave his beard and head.   After this they asked Him to have His bath.   Swami told them that He does not want to have a bath as he would get fever.   But the devotees did not listen to this and they started pouring the paneer water on His head.   Then they drew water from the well which was opposite Chinna Kurukkal’s house and started pouring it on His head.  This was followed by the numerous devotees of Swami and it seemed that all the water in the well were drawn to pour on His head.   Then he was decorated with lots of flowers, garlands and rudrakshams.   He was then photographed.   That same evening Swami became very sick.   But Swami was doing His usual things for the next forty days.    Swami became very tired and lost lot of weight in these forty days.   On the forty-first day Swamy came to Chinna Kurukkal’s house and lied down on the verandah.   Chinna Kurukkal gave him a bed and a pillow.   When the people of Tiruvannamalai heard about this they came in large numbers to worship Him.   Even people from nearby villages and even Chennai came to see him.   That place was filled with Milk, Fruits, sugar, sugar candies, laddus and other sweets.   But Swamy did not take any treatment.   He had also stopped taking food.   Nobody ventured to go near Swamy.  

When things were at this stage, B.V.Narasimhaswami, sent a message to Kuzumani Narayana Shastri who was in Salem regarding Swami’s condition.    He had mentioned that Swami was very sick, had not taken any food or even water for more than 40 days.  Since Kuzhumani Shastri was very close to Him, may be Swami would accept something to eat from him and hence he should immediately come to Tiruvannamalai.   After reading this message Kuzhumani Narayana Shastri fainted.   Then with the help of many friends, he could reach Tiruvannamalai with fruits and a shawl.   When he saw Swami in that condition he fell down at the feet of Swami and started crying.   Swami who had not opened His eyes till then, opened His eyes and looked at Kuzhumani Narayana Shastri.   Seeing this the people around shouted “Harahara Mahadeva”.   Swami sat up and took one orange from Kuzhumani Shastri.  He just poked the fruit, smelt it and threw it.   All were happy at least Swami smelt the orange.   It was raining for the past three days.   Chinna Kurukkal gave the shawl that Kuzhumani Shastri

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had brought and Swami accepted the same.   Next day Swami  was so weak with  fever and no food,  got up and went to the temple.   Kuzhumani Shastri and Manickam followed Him to ensure that he does not fall.   Inside the temple near Sivagangai Prahaaram, there a was a pit that was filled with water.   The weather was very bad with intense rain and it was very cold.   But Swami went and lied down in the pit filled with water.   Many people, despite the rain were near the pit watching Swami.    Around 9’0 clock in the night everybody left the place except Kuzhumani Narayana Shastri.   Around 3’0 clock in the morning Swami got up from the pit and went and lied down in the verandah of Chinna Kurukkal.   He was unaware of his condition and Kuzhumani Narayana Shastri understood that it is of no use covering Him with a blanket and a shawl because He was not bothered about cold or His fever.   The next morning B.V.Narasimha Swami had a desire to recite “Sundara Kandam”.   He thought that this will help Swami to recover.   He consulted Kuzhumani Shastri and they started reciting the 68 slokas in “Sundara Kandam” from morning till 3’O clock in the afternoon.   But Swami was in His Yoganidhra all this time.   When they finished Kuzhumani Shastri was doubtful whether Swami knew that they recited “Sundara Kandam”.   Then to his surprise Swami without opening His eyes sprinkled some water on him from the tumbler which was kept near Him.   This was a sign for Kuzhumani Shastri to realise that Swami was omnipotent and omnipresent.   The reciting of “Sundara Kandam” continued for two more days but Swami did not open His eyes.

Subbulakshmi came to visit Swami and Swami opened His eyes and smiled to indicate to her that this was the reply to His question to her about building a new house and doing yoga.   She was inconsolable and stared crying.  

On 4^th January 1929, Friday, all Gods and Angles gathered together in the sky to receive Swami and He left this earth  peacefully with full of happiness.   The people gathered and they all felt that the whole of Tiruvannamalai was covered with darkness.   Some started crying, some sang bhajans, some threw flowers.  Swami’s body was then decorated with new cloth, and lot of flowers.   It seemed that all the camphor in all the shops were over as everybody was lighting camphor in front of Swami.   Sri Ramana Bhagawan also visited this place.   After all the pooja Swami’s samadhi was built.

OM SATHGURU SRI SESHADRI SWAMIGAL TIRUVADIKE

Om Shanthi,  Shanthi,  Shanthi