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'''H.H. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal''' ([[1894]]–[[1994]]) or the '''Sage of Kanchi''' is considered to be one of the greatest saints of [[India]] (or ''Bharatavarsha''). He is usually referred to as '''Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati''' or [[Paramacharya]].
'''H.H. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal''' ([[1894]]–[[1994]]) or the '''Sage of Kanchi''' is considered to be one of the greatest saints of [[India]] (or ''Bharatavarsha''). He is usually referred to as '''Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati''' or [[Paramacharya]].
[[Image:paramacharya1.jpg|right|thumb|Chandrashekarendra Saraswati]]


== Early Life ==


SRI CHANDRASEKHARENDRA SARASWATI was born on Sunday [[20 May]] [[1894]], under Anuradha star, in a Kannadiga Smartha family in Villupuram (South Arcot district in [[Tamil Nadu]]) as the second son of Sri Subramaniya Sastrigal, a District Education Officer. The child was named Swaminathan, after the family deity, Lord Swaminatha of Swamimalai, a Subrahmanya Kshetra near Kumbakonam. Swaminathan began his early education at the Arcot American Mission High School at Tindivanam, where his father was working. He was a brilliant boy and a class topper in all subjects. It is notable that he won a prize for his proficiency in the recitation of the "Holy Bible" who would later grow up to be one of India's greatest saints of the 20th century. In 1905, the parents performed his [[Upanayanam]], a vedic ceremony for empowering a brahmin boy to begin his vedic studies under a guru.


[[Image:paramacharya1.jpg|right|thumb|Chandrashekarendra Saraswati]]
Chandrasekar is an avid writer. Many people in India just blindly follow Hinduism without understanding what it means. Chandrasekar has interpreted the Hindu Dharma in English so the eyes of many would open, iincluding millions worldwide. Following are his interpretations and views.


== Incidents leading to sainthood ==
== Caste System ==
During the childhood of the Acharya, his father consulted an astrologer who upon studying the boy's horoscope was stunned. The astrologer prostrated before the boy as a mark of utmost reverence despite the age difference and exclaimed that "One day the whole world will fall at his (Swaminathan’s) feet." In 1906, the 66th Acharya of Sri [[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham]] performed the annual Chaturmasyam (a forty-day annual ritual performed by the Hindu ascetics while remaining in one place, in a village near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu. This was Swaminathan’s first exposure to the Math and its Acharya. Later, Swaminathan accompanied his father whenever he visited the Math where the Acharya was deeply impressed by the young boy.


In the first week of February 1907, the Kanchi Kamakoti Math had informed Subramanya Sastrigal that Swaminathan's first cousin (son of his mother's sister) was to be installed as the 67th Peetathipathi. The then Acharya was suffering from smallpox and had the premonition that he might not live long and had administered upadesa to his disciple Lakshminathan before he attained Siddhi. Subramanya Sastrigal being away in Trichinopoly on duty arranged for the departure of Swaminathan with his mother to Kanchipuram. The boy and his mother started for Kalavai (where Lakshminathan was camping) to console his aunt, who being a widow has just lost her only son to lead a life of Sanyasa. They travelled by train to Kanchipuram and halted at the Sankara Math. By then things have taken grave turns much to the tragedy of the Kamakoti Math with the falling sick of Lakshminathan. "In the Acharya's own words (reproduced from T.M.P. Mahadevan's "The Sage of Kanchi."): I had a bath at the Kumara Koshta Tirtha. A carriage of the Math had come there from Kalavai with the people to buy articles for the Maha Puja on the tenth day of the passing of the previous 66th Acharya. One of them, a hereditary maistry of the Math, asked me to accompany him. A separate cart was engaged for the rest of the family to follow me. During the journey the maistry hinted to me that I might not return home and that the rest of my life might be spent in the Math itself. At first I thought that my elder cousin having become the Head of the Math, it was his wish that I should live with him. But the maistry gradually clarified matters as the cart rolled on. The acharya had fever which developed into delirium and that was why I was being separated from the family to be taken to Kalavai... I was stunned by this unexpected turn of events. I lay in a kneeling posture in the cart, shocked as I was, repeating "Rama... Rama," the only prayer I knew. My mother and other children came some time later only to find that instead of her mission of consoling her sister, she herself was placed in the state of having to be consoled".
"The principle behind this arrangement is that a man must do the work handed down to him from his forefathers - whatever such work be - with the conviction


that it has been ordained by Isvara and that it is for the good of the world. The work he does in this spirit itself becomes a means of his inward


The 67th Acharya died too, after a brief seven days as the head of the Math. Swaminathan was immediately installed as the 68th head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on Wednesday, February 13, 1907, the Second day of the Tamil month of Masi, Prabhava year. Swaminathan was given Sanyasa Asramam at the early age of 13 and was named Chandrasekharendra Saraswati. On May 9 of 1907 (Thursday 27th , Bilavanga year, Chitra month) "the Pattabishegam" for His Holiness as the 68th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam was performed at the Kumbakonam math. Devotees and government officials, Pundits including Shivaji Maharaja of Thanjavur with their representatives participated in the auspicious event.
advancement.




The young Acharya spent several years in the study of the scriptures and dharma shastras, and acquainted himself with his role as the Head of the Math.
"If everyone does his hereditary work and performs the rites that his forefathers performed, there will be no cause for feelings of rivalry or jealousy.


He soon gained the reverence and respect of the devotees and people around him. To millions of devotees he was simply "Periyava" — the revered one or Maha-Periyava. "Periyava" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] means a great person, and conveys endearment, reverence, and devotion. "Mahaswami" and "Paramacharya" are his other well-known appellations.
There is the further advantage that life in the community will go on smoothly without any hindrance to the common work and, at the same time, each individual


Maha-Periyava was the head of the Mutt for eighty-seven years. During this period, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam acquired new strength as an institution that propagated [[Adi Shankara|Śankara]]'s teachings. The devotion, fervour, and intensity with which the Paramacharya practiced what Śankara had taught are considered to be unparalleled by his devotees. Throughout his life, the focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating [[Veda adhyayana]], the [[Dharma Sasthras]], and the age-old tradition, which had suffered decline. "[[Veda rakshanam]]" was his very life breath, and he referred to this in most of his talks.
will feel pure inwardly. All this must be taken into account if, in the name of carrying out reforms, society is not "deformed"."


Remaining active throughout his life, the sage of Kanchi has twice undertaken a paada yatra (travelling on foot) from Raameshwaram in the Southern peninsula of India to Kasi in the North.
The world has recognized that healthy competition brings out the best in man, but this kind of thinking will for sure take us to medieval period.


Providing support through Veda Patashalas through the Veda Rakshana Nidhi which he founded, honouring Vedic scholars, holding regular sabhas ('seminars') which included discussions on arts and culture — these led to a renewed interest in Vedic religion, Dharma sasthras, and [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]. His long tenure as Pitadhipathi is considered to have been the golden era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.Due to his scintillating persona, he managed to instill faith and rouse hope in millions of devotees.


== Animal Sacrifice ==
== Spiritual leadership ==


Periyava has been a guide to millions, always stressing the importance of a Guru in one's life. He has repeatedly preached about the importance of following the Dharmic path. His various discourses are available in a pack of six books called 'Deivathin Kural' (Voice of the Divine) which have been compiled by R.Ganapathi a devotee of Periyava. These books are available only in Tamil, however a condensed form of these books is available in English. These are available in any branch of the Kanchi math.
"The Brahmasutra says: "Asuddhamiti cen na sabdat". The performance of sacrifices is based on scriptural authority and it is part of the quest for Self


realisation. So how can it be called an impure act? How do we determine whether or not an object or an act is impure or whether it is good or bad? We do so

by judging it according to the authority of of the sastras. Vyasa goes on to state in his Brahmasutra that animal sacrifice is not sinful since the act is

permeated by the sound of the Vedas. What is pure or impure is to be known by the authority provided by the Vedas or rather their sound called Sabdapramana.

If sacrifices were impure acts according to the Vedas, they would not have accepted them as part of the Atmic quest. Even if the sacrificial animal is made

of flour (the substitute according to Madhvacharya) it is imbued with life by the chanting of the Vedic mantras. Would it not then be like a living animal

and would not offering it in a sacrifice be taken as an act of violence?"

== Child Marriage ==

According to the sastras, a boy's upanayana must be performed when he is seven years old. A girl must be married at the same age. If a boy is to be initiated

into brahmacarya before his mind is disturbed by kama, a girl is to be married before she feels the carnal urge. She must also accept her husband as her

guru. According to sastras, the guru must be looked upon as Isvara. In the same way a child bride must think of her husband as both guru and Isvara and

dedicate herself whole-heartedly to him. She will be able adopt such an attitude only when she is married very young. Later she might start to reason about

things, ask questions and develop egoistic feelings.

"In childhood a girl does not ask questions. It is now that she will, out of her simple faith, look upon her husband as Paramesvara. This faith, formed in

her innocence, will take firm root in her mind when she becomes older and begins to understand things. It is all the influence of our ages-old dharma of

womanhood. A woman's devotion to her husband will now be enduring and she will always look upon him as Paramesvara. When a wife dedicates herself to her

husband and does not nurse any feelings of honour or dishonour so far as she herself is concerned, her ego will become extinct. And that means cessation from

wordly existence; in other words, liberation. Devotion, jnana, austerities, worship, sacrifices, yoga -- all these have for their goal the eradication of the

ego. This a woman obtains naturally and with ease through devotion to her husband."

We often hear critics of our traditions exclaim thus: "The husband is God to the wife? It's just babble. It's all superstition. It's suppression of woman. An

outrage. " Whatever the criticism be, this is the custom of our land. In this land called Bharata we have the Himalaya and the Ganga. If you ask why they

should be there, is there any answer? It is the same with the woman who were queens of chastity. Do Europeans think of the Alps as we think of Kailasa? Do we

think of the Ganga in the same way as the Americans think of Mississippi? Don't we experience in our hearts the divinity of our mountains and our rivers? For

people in other countries marriage is only a family arrangement. Our sastras have inspired our conjugal life with the ideal of surrender to the husband as

the supreme means for the wife to obtain purity of the Self. If the system of child marriage is opposed and changed on the pretext of bringing about the

social advancement of women, it will only serve the purpose of causing injury to their Atmic advancement. It would mean creating a small convenience for our

women at the expense of the very great spiritual reward that is theirs as the inheritors of our traditions.

To say that child marriage is harmful to a woman's body is empty talk. Tough the girl is married as a child she will be ready for conjugal life only after

she becomes physically mature. Besides on many days like the full moon and the new moon the couple will have to practice continence. Now such restrictions

are not observed. Physical weakness has become more common among people and neurologists prosper at their expense.

That the system of early marriage led to the existence of child widows is said to be a blot on the Hindu religion. But the number of children who become

widows is exaggerated, and the implication is that their husbands must have died when they were in the age-group of 15-25. From what I have heard there are

few deaths in this age-group. So the number of child widows cannot be many. I would not deny their existence altogether. It is painful to see even one child

becoming a widow. But considering the great benefits that child marriage brings we must made an allowance for misfortunes like young girls being widowed.

Even now, if she is so fated, where is the assurance that a girl married at the age of 20 or more will not become a widow when she is still young? We hear

reports of couples who have been married only for two or three months being killed in rail or plane accidents. Such tragedies do create anguish. If the

reason for banning child marriage is the phenomenon of child widows, what is the guarantee that girls married when they are older in years will not become

widows?
==See also==
==See also==
[[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham]].
[[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham]].
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::Isvara-Bhakti
::Isvara-Bhakti
::Music-Peace
::Music-Peace



==References==
==References==
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/feb42007/finearts18304200723.asp Paramacharya's contribution in preserving Vedas]
*''A search in Secret India'' — Paul Brunton
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/24/stories/2002052401330400.htm The Musical Genius]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/01/04/stories/2002010401261000.htm His Chennai visit 1954]
* President APJ Abdul Kalam by R.K. Pruthi – 2003 Book - Pages: 1-284
* Paramacharya: Life of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi of Sri Kanchi by Es. Cāmpamūrtti Cāstiri. Jana Kalyan, 1991. Pages:315
* The sage of Kanchi by T M P Mahadevan, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankara Mandir, 1983. Pages 73
* [http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/03/13/stories/2007031300271500.htm The Sage and Advaita]
* Paramacharya of Kanchi: A Spiritual and Human Relationship: Recollections,M. Y. Ghorpade, Vidyaranya Vidya Pita Trust, 1996, 223
* [http://www.carnatica.net/mmmela2001/kvninterview.html Acharya to Ariyakudi on the meaning of Carnatic Songs by KVN]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2003/06/13/stories/2003061300120600.htm Childhood to Peetarohanam]



{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswati, Chandrashekarendra}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswati, Chandrashekarendra}}

Revision as of 01:14, 22 February 2008

H.H. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (1894–1994) or the Sage of Kanchi is considered to be one of the greatest saints of India (or Bharatavarsha). He is usually referred to as Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati or Paramacharya.

Early Life

SRI CHANDRASEKHARENDRA SARASWATI was born on Sunday 20 May 1894, under Anuradha star, in a Kannadiga Smartha family in Villupuram (South Arcot district in Tamil Nadu) as the second son of Sri Subramaniya Sastrigal, a District Education Officer. The child was named Swaminathan, after the family deity, Lord Swaminatha of Swamimalai, a Subrahmanya Kshetra near Kumbakonam. Swaminathan began his early education at the Arcot American Mission High School at Tindivanam, where his father was working. He was a brilliant boy and a class topper in all subjects. It is notable that he won a prize for his proficiency in the recitation of the "Holy Bible" who would later grow up to be one of India's greatest saints of the 20th century. In 1905, the parents performed his Upanayanam, a vedic ceremony for empowering a brahmin boy to begin his vedic studies under a guru.

File:Paramacharya1.jpg
Chandrashekarendra Saraswati

Incidents leading to sainthood

During the childhood of the Acharya, his father consulted an astrologer who upon studying the boy's horoscope was stunned. The astrologer prostrated before the boy as a mark of utmost reverence despite the age difference and exclaimed that "One day the whole world will fall at his (Swaminathan’s) feet." In 1906, the 66th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham performed the annual Chaturmasyam (a forty-day annual ritual performed by the Hindu ascetics while remaining in one place, in a village near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu. This was Swaminathan’s first exposure to the Math and its Acharya. Later, Swaminathan accompanied his father whenever he visited the Math where the Acharya was deeply impressed by the young boy.

In the first week of February 1907, the Kanchi Kamakoti Math had informed Subramanya Sastrigal that Swaminathan's first cousin (son of his mother's sister) was to be installed as the 67th Peetathipathi. The then Acharya was suffering from smallpox and had the premonition that he might not live long and had administered upadesa to his disciple Lakshminathan before he attained Siddhi. Subramanya Sastrigal being away in Trichinopoly on duty arranged for the departure of Swaminathan with his mother to Kanchipuram. The boy and his mother started for Kalavai (where Lakshminathan was camping) to console his aunt, who being a widow has just lost her only son to lead a life of Sanyasa. They travelled by train to Kanchipuram and halted at the Sankara Math. By then things have taken grave turns much to the tragedy of the Kamakoti Math with the falling sick of Lakshminathan. "In the Acharya's own words (reproduced from T.M.P. Mahadevan's "The Sage of Kanchi."): I had a bath at the Kumara Koshta Tirtha. A carriage of the Math had come there from Kalavai with the people to buy articles for the Maha Puja on the tenth day of the passing of the previous 66th Acharya. One of them, a hereditary maistry of the Math, asked me to accompany him. A separate cart was engaged for the rest of the family to follow me. During the journey the maistry hinted to me that I might not return home and that the rest of my life might be spent in the Math itself. At first I thought that my elder cousin having become the Head of the Math, it was his wish that I should live with him. But the maistry gradually clarified matters as the cart rolled on. The acharya had fever which developed into delirium and that was why I was being separated from the family to be taken to Kalavai... I was stunned by this unexpected turn of events. I lay in a kneeling posture in the cart, shocked as I was, repeating "Rama... Rama," the only prayer I knew. My mother and other children came some time later only to find that instead of her mission of consoling her sister, she herself was placed in the state of having to be consoled".


The 67th Acharya died too, after a brief seven days as the head of the Math. Swaminathan was immediately installed as the 68th head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on Wednesday, February 13, 1907, the Second day of the Tamil month of Masi, Prabhava year. Swaminathan was given Sanyasa Asramam at the early age of 13 and was named Chandrasekharendra Saraswati. On May 9 of 1907 (Thursday 27th , Bilavanga year, Chitra month) "the Pattabishegam" for His Holiness as the 68th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam was performed at the Kumbakonam math. Devotees and government officials, Pundits including Shivaji Maharaja of Thanjavur with their representatives participated in the auspicious event.


The young Acharya spent several years in the study of the scriptures and dharma shastras, and acquainted himself with his role as the Head of the Math.

He soon gained the reverence and respect of the devotees and people around him. To millions of devotees he was simply "Periyava" — the revered one or Maha-Periyava. "Periyava" in Tamil means a great person, and conveys endearment, reverence, and devotion. "Mahaswami" and "Paramacharya" are his other well-known appellations.

Maha-Periyava was the head of the Mutt for eighty-seven years. During this period, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam acquired new strength as an institution that propagated Śankara's teachings. The devotion, fervour, and intensity with which the Paramacharya practiced what Śankara had taught are considered to be unparalleled by his devotees. Throughout his life, the focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating Veda adhyayana, the Dharma Sasthras, and the age-old tradition, which had suffered decline. "Veda rakshanam" was his very life breath, and he referred to this in most of his talks.

Remaining active throughout his life, the sage of Kanchi has twice undertaken a paada yatra (travelling on foot) from Raameshwaram in the Southern peninsula of India to Kasi in the North.

Providing support through Veda Patashalas through the Veda Rakshana Nidhi which he founded, honouring Vedic scholars, holding regular sabhas ('seminars') which included discussions on arts and culture — these led to a renewed interest in Vedic religion, Dharma sasthras, and Sanskrit. His long tenure as Pitadhipathi is considered to have been the golden era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.Due to his scintillating persona, he managed to instill faith and rouse hope in millions of devotees.

Spiritual leadership

Periyava has been a guide to millions, always stressing the importance of a Guru in one's life. He has repeatedly preached about the importance of following the Dharmic path. His various discourses are available in a pack of six books called 'Deivathin Kural' (Voice of the Divine) which have been compiled by R.Ganapathi a devotee of Periyava. These books are available only in Tamil, however a condensed form of these books is available in English. These are available in any branch of the Kanchi math.

See also

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

External links

Amrita-Moksha
Isvara-Bhakti
Music-Peace


References

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