Swami Satchidananda was born to Kalyanasundaram and Velammai of Chettipalayam on the outskirts of Coimbatore. He was born as C.K.Ramaswamy Gounder and was affectionately known as ' Ramu '. Swamiji was briefly the Manager of the Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple and was also a war veteran. This Indian religious teacher was a spiritual master and a yoga adept. He gained enormous fame in the west and has authored several books. ' Easeful, Peaceful and Useful ' was his motto. Swamiji is known for his book ' The Healthy Vegetarian'. He searched for real sages, saints and spiritual masters. Swamiji mediated in holy shrines while also studying with revered spiritual masters. He had studied with Ramana Maharishi. Eventually he came under the great Swami Sivananda Saraswathi of the Divine Life Society. He became Satchidananda Saraswathi in 1949.
Swami Satchidananda was born to Kalyanasundaram and Velammai of Chettipalayam on the outskirts of Coimbatore. He was born as C.K.Ramaswamy Gounder and was affectionately known as ' Ramu '. Swamiji was briefly the Manager of the Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple and was also a war veteran. This Indian religious teacher was a spiritual master and a yoga adept. He gained enormous fame in the west and has authored several books. ' Easeful, Peaceful and Useful ' was his motto. Swamiji is known for his book ' The Healthy Vegetarian'. He searched for real sages, saints and spiritual masters. Swamiji mediated in holy shrines while also studying with revered spiritual masters. He had studied with Ramana Maharishi. Eventually he came under the great Swami Sivananda Saraswathi of the Divine Life Society. He became Satchidananda Saraswathi in 1949.
Swamiji had stayed for sometime at the Sadhu Swamigal Ashram in Palani for sometime. It was here that he learned the methods of fasting and religious worship. Subsequently he went to Thirupparaithurai near Trichy and received his spiritual initiation from Swami Chidbhavananda. Thereafter he went to Chennai and stayed with Sri Bikshu Swamigal in order to organize nature cure medical camps for the poor. Many were healed and people became quite happy. On one instance, he cured the bleeding eye of a poor girl who came from a socially backward strata of the society. Swami Satchidananda was not only a Yogi in meditation but also a Karma Yogi. He was always peaceful and helpful to all. The surroundings never bothered him.
The Swamiji hailed from the Kongu region of Tamilnadu. Vellimalai, Vindumalai, Brahmagiri, Marudamalai and Irudimalai are the five holy mountains in this region. Many of the ancestors of the Swamiji were saints. One of his forefathers Kuttiappar was a brilliant, God fearing and intelligent person. He lived more than 200 years ago and had lost his eyesight at the tender age of 15 due to an attack of small pox. His inner self was bright and just by listening, he gained valuable knowledge in astrology, astronomy, mathematics and the game of chess. An interesting incident took place one day. Kuttiappar went to Marudamalai with his brother's son and offered prayers to Lord Muruga in the temple.
Kuttiappar spent the full day immersed in prayers and the priest left the temple in order to go home in the night. His house was 8 kilometres away. Kuttippar developed stomach pain in the night and was also hungry. He prayed to Lord Muruga in order to get cured. The prayer was in the form of lovely Tamil poem. A knock was felt on the door and Kuttiappar's brother's son opened the door. The priest came in and offered some cooked rice and ginger water to the two of them. Both of them ate the food and slept in the temple. They woke up the next day and had a bath.
The priest came back and enquired whether Kuttippar stayed back in the temple and also apologized for not providing food the previous night. A surprised Kuttiappar told the priest about the dinner received by him the earlier night. He then asked the boy to bring the vessels and show it to the priest. The priest was surprised for he had kept the vessels in the temple and locked the door before going home ! They surmised that it was Lord Muruga himself. Kuttiappar stayed in the temple for sometime and composed several songs on the Lord of Marudamalai. He went to Perur thereafter and met a Yogi. He received spiritual blessings from him and wanted to know about his past life. The Yogi dug a pit and made Kuttiappar sit within the same. It was sealed and was opened after 48 days by the same Yogi. Kuttiappar realized the reason for his loss of sight. He had been born a Madhwa brahmin in his earlier birth and had been in charge of lighting temple lamps with the ghee made available to him. The ghee was stolen by him and given to a prostitute. This action of his had made Kuttiappar lose his eye sight in his current birth. The great soul Kuttiappar realized his mistake and prayed to the Lord to forgive him. He wrote several devotional books and also composed several devotional songs during his long sojourn.
Swamiji's father Kalyanasundaram was a born intellectual and was keenly interested in Tamil. He was a staunch worshipper of Lord Shiva and learned the formal ritualistic worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga as well. Kalyanasundaram was extremely talented in composing poems in a particular metre. Therefore he came to be known as ' Chitra Kavi '. He wrote many books on Lord Muruga, Lord Shiva and also Tirukkural. He was felicitated with a number of titles by the people of Coimbatore. Sivananda Saraswathi Swamiji conferred the title ' Kavi Choodamani ' on Kalyanasundaram.
Velammai, the devoted wife of Kalyanasundaram respected spiritual people and took care of them all her life. She believed that such people were forms of God. She offered her respects to Swami Ramanandar, Kandaswami Swamigal and Palani Sadhu Swamigal. She fasted often in order to keep her body and mind pure. A few of her ancestors were great souls.
Swami Ramananda Swamigal, the Chief spiritual head of Kowmara madam and his assistant Kandaswami Swamigal are her noble forefathers. Kandaswami Swamigal was a staunch devotee of Lord Muruga and was a wonderful poet. Valammai had learned a lot about religion from Sadhu Swamigal. She worshipped Lord Surya and observed a number of austerities. The noble child Ramaswamy - Swami Satchidananda was born to the couple thereafter. The wonderful child had imbibed much and eventually evolved into a great soul who offered guidance to millions around the world.