Chandrashekharendra Saraswati VIII
H.H. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Paramacharya Swamigal (1894–1994) or the Sage of Kanchi was considered by believers to have been one of the greatest saints of Bharata Varsha.
Swaminathan was born at Villupuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu, on Sunday 20 May 1894. His parents named him Swaminathan, after the presiding deity of Swamimalai, a Subrahmanya Kshetra, near Kumbakonam. Swaminathan started his early education under his father’s own tutelage until he was seven. In 1905, the parents performed the Upanayanam for him. He soon joined the Arcot American Mission School at Tindivanam, in the second form.
In 1906, the 66th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam performed the annual Chaturmasyam in a village near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu. This was Swaminathan’s first exposure to the Mutt and the then Acharya. Swaminathan accompanied his father whenever he visited the Mutt, and the Acharya was deeply impressed by the young boy.
At the beginning of 1907, things took an unexpected turn. The 66th Acharya died, and Swaminathan's maternal cousin was anointed as the 67th Acharya. On hearing, the news Swaminathan's family travelled to Kalavai to console his aunt. The family reached Kanchipuram en route to Kalavai. In the meantime, the 67th Acharya died too, after a brief seven days as the head of the Mutt.
Thirteen-year-old Swaminathan was inducted into the ascetic order on February 13 1907, as the 68th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, as Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati. After performing the various ceremonies for the two previous Acharyas, he left on a tour to Kumbakonam. 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 Mutt.
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 Vedha Patashalas through the Vedha Rakshana Nidhi which he founded, honouring Vedic scholars, holding regular sadhas 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 Pitam.
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 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.
External links
- Official website of Kanchi Kamakoti peetham
- A web site dedicated to The Sage of Kanchi
- Paramacharya's Soundaryalahari Discourses
- English translation of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami's discourses at [1] under following titles:
- Amrita-Moksha
- Isvara-Bhakti
- Music-Peace
References
- A search in Secret India — Paul Brunton