Long ago the great preceptor Adi Sankara visited Kanchipuram and decided to make it a major center for Sri Vidya Upasana or worship.
Long ago the great preceptor Adi Sankara visited Kanchipuram and decided to make it a major center for Sri Vidya Upasana or worship.
This cult was established for conducting an elaborate worship of Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari and special upasakars were required for this purpose. These people were known as Sri Vidya Upasakars and it was required of them to maintain a disciplined attitude to life for sustaining the power generated by these austerities.
Therefore Adi Sankara brought a set of the devotees of Devi from the banks of River Narmada to Kanchipuram. The lineage of these special devotees of Devi took the name ' Kamakoti Vamsa ' and over time these families took to astrology too.
During the nineteenth century one Kamakoti Sastrigal spent his life in Vazhur, a suburb of Kanchipuram and he used to worship Goddess Kamakshi as the Sri Vidya Swarupam.
He was a religious scholar and was blessed with one daughter - Seshammal. He used to dote on the children of his elder brother Chidambara Sastri and particularly the youngest of the four Maragathammal, who was so beautiful and intelligent that people considered her to be almost divinity incarnate.
She was very good in art, culture and music. Over time only two families of the thirty brought in by Adi Sankara had stayed back in Kanchipuram and one Varadarajar, a disciple of Kamakoti Sastrigal came from the other family. Endowed with Sri Vidya Siddhi and good looks, he was considered to be an ideal match for Maragathammal.
The wedding was fixed with the consent of Seshadri Joshyar, the father of Varadarajar and it culminated in a seven day ceremony at Kanchipuram.
Maragathammal and Varadarajar settled down happily and got immersed in their life which was devoted to God. Years passed and the lack of progeny created a vacuum in their lives. They prayed to God, visited Rameswaram, and performed austerities like ‘Mangala Sasti Vratham’ and ‘Mangala Kumara Vratham’. On seeing all this Kamakoti Sastrigal began to offer prayers and he beseeched Goddess Kamakshi repeatedly and earnestly. His entreaties resulted in divine intervention in the form of a dream. The Goddess appeared in his dream and commandeered him to offer butter as ' Naivedyam ' (offering) and then give it to Maragathammal. Kamakoti Sastri went ahead, offered butter to Goddess Kamakshi and made Maragathammal have the same.
Eventually the devout Maragathammal was blessed with the boy baby whom they named Seshadri on 22 nd of January 1870.
Young Seshadri was a favorite of everyone and his charming presence captivated the people whom he came across. In fact his first birthday was marked by a month long celebration. Little Seshadri was the apple in the eye of Kamakoti Sastrigal. Soon he started meditating along with his father and also began to recite a number of prayers. He was peaceful and calm from his early childhood. The little boy was a Yogi of supreme realization. The luck of this young boy became visible from the very beginning.
Every day, Maragathammal used to visit the Varadaraja Temple in Kanchipuram along with the boy Seshadri who was about 4 years old. One day little Seshadri saw an icon of Lord Krishna with a shopkeeper and picked it up. The crawling Baby Krishna with butter had captivated him and on seeing the devotion, the shopkeeper gave it to the child and refused to take money for the same. The next day when Maragathammal and Seshadri came back the same way only to see the shopkeeper running to prostrate before the mother and kiss the hand of the child for he had sold 1000 icons in one day as against just 200 or 300 in the festival season.
Shortly after this incident Seshadri joined the Temple Vedic School and he also studied scriptures at the ' Sastra Patashala ' and ' Sadagopa Patashala '.
Divinely blessed as he was, a jewel of Goddess Kamakshi, knowledge came easily to Seshadri. However he lost his father Varadarajar quite early and came under the care of Kamakoti Sastrigal. After some time Kamakoti Sastrigal passed away but he had done what was required of him thanks to his astuteness and wisdom. They tried to get young Seshadri married but he was meant for greater things and one day Maragathammal passed into eternity leaving her divine child to begin a new phase of life.
Young Seshadri lived with his uncle and aunt. His japas, meditation, sound knowledge of the scriptures, recitation of Durga Stuthi, Mukapancha Sathi, and performance of Sandhya Vandanam further strengthened him. The family got worried for he failed to keep up his personal appearance and slowly stopped taking care of himself. He used to share food with animals for never differentiated and began to penance in a crematorium thereafter.
The meeting with Balaji Swamy made a big change in his life for in him Seshadri had found his Guru. He used to spend hours with him by taking care of him and his needs. Pleased with the youngster's devotion, Balaji Swamy initiated him into Sanyasa Ashrama. The wandering Seshadri used to be locked up in a room and on opening the door he could not be seen. This was just the beginning of the miracles associated with him. Once Seshadri Swamigal saw a snake and called it and let it climb his head. Everyone got petrified but the serpent circled his neck thrice and spread its hood over his head. He was by then in a deep state of meditation.
He reached Thiruvannamalai in the year 1889 and he was to stay there until his attainment of Samadhi in 1929. Seshadri Swamigal had spent time visiting a number of temples including the powerful temple of the deity Renuka at Padaivedu. On reaching Thiruvannamalai, Seshadri Swamigal rushed to the shrines of Arunachaleshwara and Unnamalai. He got blissfully immersed in the worship thereafter.
A brief analysis of Seshadri Swami Gal’s horoscope is sure to reveal a lot. It is accepted that he is reincarnation of Abhirami Bhattar who had rendered the ' Abhirami Andhadhi ' while being strung by hundred ropes by the men of Raja Serfoji for having stated that it was full moon day on a new moon day. This utterance happened at a time when he was lost in the radiance of the ever effulgent Abhirami Ambal at Thirukadaiyoor. The ropes were fastened to a plank which stood above a huge fire and while he sang the hundred songs the ropes were cut one by and finally while singing the seventy ninth song, the Goddess Abhirami let her diamond ear stud fly in the air in order to fill in for the full moon. Lo, it became Pournami and the great devotee completed hundred verses on her thanks to her miracle and grace.
Seshadri Swamigal had an unkempt appearance and he used to move around with his matted hair all by himself. One really took time to understand his real nature. In fact this appearance conveyed the transient nature of things. He ate very little and it was mostly leftovers. However the miracles were many. He gave his support to the young Ramana Maharishi and rarely slept.
In Thiruvannamalai, the shop owners used to await his visits and he would play with the cash in the cash box. This was a blessing for them because once he flung the cash, the shop used to become very successful. He began to be known as ' Thangakkai ' Seshadri Swamigal. Volumes can be written about the miracles associated with Seshadri Swamigal with whom Ramana Maharishi enjoyed a good association. People’s lives got saved, jobs were granted, protection was given, and wishes were fulfilled while he spread universal compassion. On one instance, the five year old son of Natesa Iyer regained his eye sight due to the grace of Seshadri Swamigal. Once a disbeliever became a believer. Sometimes different people saw him at the same time in different places. He was a great Gyani who blessed people with everything that was required. Thiruvannamalai was a hot place and when people used to plead with him to cool the area, Seshadri Swamigal used to look upwards and lo, it used rain within minutes.
In his teachings the great Saint Seshadri Swamigal stated that just as the five layers of the jackfruit covering the edible portion need to be removed to taste the fruit, so also the five senses should be conquered to reach God. He also makes it clear to his disciples by standing in front of a mirror and demonstrating that it is possible to see the reflection only because of the mirror. He states that when wisdom dawns, the illusion disappears which is akin to the removal of the mirror and the seeker learns the truth about his oneness with the supreme. Seshadri Swamigal illustrated that all the three - Bhakti, Karma and Gnana Yogas can be adopted by any human being to attain God realisation through the story of the boatman Guha in the Ramayana. While ferrying Lord Rama it was Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga was portrayed through his devotion at the time of his duty. Later on this servant of God attains ' Moksha ' or liberation in the river and this exemplified Gnana Yoga. Again Seshadri Swamigal was verily the fire that purified all that was not good.
Seshadri Swamigal attained Samadhi in the year 1929 and apart from the ashram and adhishtanam at Thiruvannamalai, there are adhishtanams in Unjaloor and Coimbatore. It is here that the great Seshadri Swamigal has spoken using such souls as he thinks fit. He has made his presence felt time and again over the years.
Seshadri Swamigal believed in universal compassion and he continues to guide the people of the land he belongs to. It is important to know that when people approach the great souls good things will only have to be given and it will increase hundred fold. The same holds good for the opposite. Sri Seshadri Swamigal was one who was emphatic that spiritual goal was vital, self realisation and devotion were to be a way of life. the transient was to be replaced by the permanent.
In a world with different standards prevailing, living up to these ideals may seem difficult, at times even impossible. It is then that one should remember that help is always forthcoming to the helpless soul, searching for light - Seshadri Swamigal ever guides.
The Swamigal with the Golden touch or ' Thangakkai ' Seshadri Swamigal will continue to bless and grace Coimbatore - a city known for its enterprise and value system. The life story of Sri Seshadri Swamigal teaches the human a better way of life, true to his inherent nature. He reminds people of so many things forgotten today and the paramount importance of remembering them. Goddess Kamakshi and the Seshadri Swamigal center at Coimbatore are sure to make Coimbatore an eternal city like Kanchipuram.
The Tamil New Year “Vilambi “is sure to herald all round prosperity for one and all.
This cult was established for conducting an elaborate worship of Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari and special upasakars were required for this purpose. These people were known as Sri Vidya Upasakars and it was required of them to maintain a disciplined attitude to life for sustaining the power generated by these austerities.
Therefore Adi Sankara brought a set of the devotees of Devi from the banks of River Narmada to Kanchipuram. The lineage of these special devotees of Devi took the name ' Kamakoti Vamsa ' and over time these families took to astrology too.
During the nineteenth century one Kamakoti Sastrigal spent his life in Vazhur, a suburb of Kanchipuram and he used to worship Goddess Kamakshi as the Sri Vidya Swarupam.
He was a religious scholar and was blessed with one daughter - Seshammal. He used to dote on the children of his elder brother Chidambara Sastri and particularly the youngest of the four Maragathammal, who was so beautiful and intelligent that people considered her to be almost divinity incarnate.
She was very good in art, culture and music. Over time only two families of the thirty brought in by Adi Sankara had stayed back in Kanchipuram and one Varadarajar, a disciple of Kamakoti Sastrigal came from the other family. Endowed with Sri Vidya Siddhi and good looks, he was considered to be an ideal match for Maragathammal.
The wedding was fixed with the consent of Seshadri Joshyar, the father of Varadarajar and it culminated in a seven day ceremony at Kanchipuram.
Maragathammal and Varadarajar settled down happily and got immersed in their life which was devoted to God. Years passed and the lack of progeny created a vacuum in their lives. They prayed to God, visited Rameswaram, and performed austerities like ‘Mangala Sasti Vratham’ and ‘Mangala Kumara Vratham’. On seeing all this Kamakoti Sastrigal began to offer prayers and he beseeched Goddess Kamakshi repeatedly and earnestly. His entreaties resulted in divine intervention in the form of a dream. The Goddess appeared in his dream and commandeered him to offer butter as ' Naivedyam ' (offering) and then give it to Maragathammal. Kamakoti Sastri went ahead, offered butter to Goddess Kamakshi and made Maragathammal have the same.
Eventually the devout Maragathammal was blessed with the boy baby whom they named Seshadri on 22 nd of January 1870.
Young Seshadri was a favorite of everyone and his charming presence captivated the people whom he came across. In fact his first birthday was marked by a month long celebration. Little Seshadri was the apple in the eye of Kamakoti Sastrigal. Soon he started meditating along with his father and also began to recite a number of prayers. He was peaceful and calm from his early childhood. The little boy was a Yogi of supreme realization. The luck of this young boy became visible from the very beginning.
Every day, Maragathammal used to visit the Varadaraja Temple in Kanchipuram along with the boy Seshadri who was about 4 years old. One day little Seshadri saw an icon of Lord Krishna with a shopkeeper and picked it up. The crawling Baby Krishna with butter had captivated him and on seeing the devotion, the shopkeeper gave it to the child and refused to take money for the same. The next day when Maragathammal and Seshadri came back the same way only to see the shopkeeper running to prostrate before the mother and kiss the hand of the child for he had sold 1000 icons in one day as against just 200 or 300 in the festival season.
Shortly after this incident Seshadri joined the Temple Vedic School and he also studied scriptures at the ' Sastra Patashala ' and ' Sadagopa Patashala '.
Divinely blessed as he was, a jewel of Goddess Kamakshi, knowledge came easily to Seshadri. However he lost his father Varadarajar quite early and came under the care of Kamakoti Sastrigal. After some time Kamakoti Sastrigal passed away but he had done what was required of him thanks to his astuteness and wisdom. They tried to get young Seshadri married but he was meant for greater things and one day Maragathammal passed into eternity leaving her divine child to begin a new phase of life.
Young Seshadri lived with his uncle and aunt. His japas, meditation, sound knowledge of the scriptures, recitation of Durga Stuthi, Mukapancha Sathi, and performance of Sandhya Vandanam further strengthened him. The family got worried for he failed to keep up his personal appearance and slowly stopped taking care of himself. He used to share food with animals for never differentiated and began to penance in a crematorium thereafter.
The meeting with Balaji Swamy made a big change in his life for in him Seshadri had found his Guru. He used to spend hours with him by taking care of him and his needs. Pleased with the youngster's devotion, Balaji Swamy initiated him into Sanyasa Ashrama. The wandering Seshadri used to be locked up in a room and on opening the door he could not be seen. This was just the beginning of the miracles associated with him. Once Seshadri Swamigal saw a snake and called it and let it climb his head. Everyone got petrified but the serpent circled his neck thrice and spread its hood over his head. He was by then in a deep state of meditation.
He reached Thiruvannamalai in the year 1889 and he was to stay there until his attainment of Samadhi in 1929. Seshadri Swamigal had spent time visiting a number of temples including the powerful temple of the deity Renuka at Padaivedu. On reaching Thiruvannamalai, Seshadri Swamigal rushed to the shrines of Arunachaleshwara and Unnamalai. He got blissfully immersed in the worship thereafter.
A brief analysis of Seshadri Swami Gal’s horoscope is sure to reveal a lot. It is accepted that he is reincarnation of Abhirami Bhattar who had rendered the ' Abhirami Andhadhi ' while being strung by hundred ropes by the men of Raja Serfoji for having stated that it was full moon day on a new moon day. This utterance happened at a time when he was lost in the radiance of the ever effulgent Abhirami Ambal at Thirukadaiyoor. The ropes were fastened to a plank which stood above a huge fire and while he sang the hundred songs the ropes were cut one by and finally while singing the seventy ninth song, the Goddess Abhirami let her diamond ear stud fly in the air in order to fill in for the full moon. Lo, it became Pournami and the great devotee completed hundred verses on her thanks to her miracle and grace.
Seshadri Swamigal had an unkempt appearance and he used to move around with his matted hair all by himself. One really took time to understand his real nature. In fact this appearance conveyed the transient nature of things. He ate very little and it was mostly leftovers. However the miracles were many. He gave his support to the young Ramana Maharishi and rarely slept.
In Thiruvannamalai, the shop owners used to await his visits and he would play with the cash in the cash box. This was a blessing for them because once he flung the cash, the shop used to become very successful. He began to be known as ' Thangakkai ' Seshadri Swamigal. Volumes can be written about the miracles associated with Seshadri Swamigal with whom Ramana Maharishi enjoyed a good association. People’s lives got saved, jobs were granted, protection was given, and wishes were fulfilled while he spread universal compassion. On one instance, the five year old son of Natesa Iyer regained his eye sight due to the grace of Seshadri Swamigal. Once a disbeliever became a believer. Sometimes different people saw him at the same time in different places. He was a great Gyani who blessed people with everything that was required. Thiruvannamalai was a hot place and when people used to plead with him to cool the area, Seshadri Swamigal used to look upwards and lo, it used rain within minutes.
In his teachings the great Saint Seshadri Swamigal stated that just as the five layers of the jackfruit covering the edible portion need to be removed to taste the fruit, so also the five senses should be conquered to reach God. He also makes it clear to his disciples by standing in front of a mirror and demonstrating that it is possible to see the reflection only because of the mirror. He states that when wisdom dawns, the illusion disappears which is akin to the removal of the mirror and the seeker learns the truth about his oneness with the supreme. Seshadri Swamigal illustrated that all the three - Bhakti, Karma and Gnana Yogas can be adopted by any human being to attain God realisation through the story of the boatman Guha in the Ramayana. While ferrying Lord Rama it was Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga was portrayed through his devotion at the time of his duty. Later on this servant of God attains ' Moksha ' or liberation in the river and this exemplified Gnana Yoga. Again Seshadri Swamigal was verily the fire that purified all that was not good.
Seshadri Swamigal attained Samadhi in the year 1929 and apart from the ashram and adhishtanam at Thiruvannamalai, there are adhishtanams in Unjaloor and Coimbatore. It is here that the great Seshadri Swamigal has spoken using such souls as he thinks fit. He has made his presence felt time and again over the years.
Seshadri Swamigal believed in universal compassion and he continues to guide the people of the land he belongs to. It is important to know that when people approach the great souls good things will only have to be given and it will increase hundred fold. The same holds good for the opposite. Sri Seshadri Swamigal was one who was emphatic that spiritual goal was vital, self realisation and devotion were to be a way of life. the transient was to be replaced by the permanent.
In a world with different standards prevailing, living up to these ideals may seem difficult, at times even impossible. It is then that one should remember that help is always forthcoming to the helpless soul, searching for light - Seshadri Swamigal ever guides.
The Swamigal with the Golden touch or ' Thangakkai ' Seshadri Swamigal will continue to bless and grace Coimbatore - a city known for its enterprise and value system. The life story of Sri Seshadri Swamigal teaches the human a better way of life, true to his inherent nature. He reminds people of so many things forgotten today and the paramount importance of remembering them. Goddess Kamakshi and the Seshadri Swamigal center at Coimbatore are sure to make Coimbatore an eternal city like Kanchipuram.
The Tamil New Year “Vilambi “is sure to herald all round prosperity for one and all.