Kaanchi paramacharya biography of mahatma gandhi

Prayer to the Paramacharya

TOWARDS THE end of the 19th century, May 20, 1894, to be precise, corresponding to eighth day of Vaikasi “Jaya” year, humanity was blessed with the birth of Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal, who at the age of 13, in 1907, took to a life of renunciation and for 87 years travelled on foot through the length and breadth of this country, blessing all sections of the people, who longed for his darshan. A polyglot, he spoke to the devotees in their native tongue and discussed all their areas of interest with equal felicity. Every devotee, after having darshan felt happy that the Acharya cared about him and of his family.

Universally respected, religious heads and Adeenams supported the Acharya in his movement to promote the Bhakti Marga.

Paramacharya had a soft corner for Sri Kripananda Variar. During one of their meetings, Variar tried to prostrate before Paramacharya, who stopped the devotee. To an amazed Variar, Periyava said, “You are wearing Sivalinga around your neck and it will touch the floor if you prostrate and that should not happen.” Overwhelmed, Variar shed tears, moved by the deep respect Swami had for Siva puja. Once when Variyar was asked to speak about himself, he was at a loss for words. Kanchi Paramacharya who was present on the occasion, said, “Why don’t you tell people that you have given away every penny you have earned, keeping nothing for yourself?” Variyar remarked, “Even my wife doesn’t know that I give away everything I earn, but now the Paramacharya has told everyone.”

In 1927, (on October 15) Mahatma Gandhi, during his tour of South India called on Paramacharya, who was camping at Nallicheri in Palakkad. The meeting took place in a cow-shed. Gandhiji was highly impressed with the handspun saffron cloth the Acharya was wearing.

The remarkable dialogue between the most venerated religious head and the Father of the Nation went on

The Mahasomprokshanam (Re-consecration) of the famous Sri Rama temple at Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, was preformed in a grand manner on the 15th of March, 1968 in the immediate presence of Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Swami of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha and then Junior Acharya of the Peetha. It is to be noted that the temple, built by Sri Bhakta Ramadas in the 17th Century A.D., has been renovated in accordance with the guidance and instruction of the Acharya before the Samprokshanam. The year's Vasanta Navaratri Puja were performed from 29th march, for nine days, at Khammam, Andhra Pradesh. After nearly a month's travel both the preceptors reached Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh on 27th of April of the year, His Holiness was welcomed by the then Chief Minister of Andhra, other ministers, top-ranking officials, leading citizens and large concourse of devotees at the outskirts of the city.

The Vyasapuja of the year was performed by His Holiness at the spacious building attached t the Swarajya Press, at Padma Rao Nagar, in Secunderabad City, where the Acharyas stayed for the Chaturmasya period. The seventh Vyasa-Bharata-Agama-Silpa-Kaladi Sadas was conducted in the same place for two weeks from 20th of August (1968). The State Government made elaborate and excellent arrangements for the successful conduct of the Sadas. Leaving Secunderabad on the seventh of September, the Acharyas reached Vijayawada at night on the 21st of the month. Sarad-Navaratri was celebrated at Vijayawada. After Navaratri, the Fourth All India Sarva-Veda-Sakha-Sammelan (Conference of Scholars well-versed in all branched of the vedas) was conducted at the camping place of His Holiness, at Vijayawada. Since the timing of the conference (11th October to 14 October-1968), coincided with the Krishna Pushkaram festival, a large number of Veda pandits from Andhra,

MAHATMA GANDHI was touring the South in the latter half of 1927. He had heard about the Sage of Kamakoti Peetha, and wanted very much to meet him. The Sage was camping at Palghat at the time in the course of his vijaya-yatra. The Mahatma went there on the 15th of October, 1927; the meeting took place on that day at Nellisseri village, Palghat, Kerala.

His, Holiness received the Mahatma in the cattle-shed situated in the backyard of the camp. It was a unique experience for the Mahatma. Here was an authentic successor of Sankara, dressed in a piece of’ ochre cloth made of khadi, and seated on the floor. The Acharya too appreciated the occasion provided for getting to know, at first hand, the leader of the nation who had adopted voluntarily the mode of a simple peasant’s life. At the very first sight, the Mahatma was drawn to the Perfection Incarnate that was seated before him. The atmosphere was surcharged with spiritual silence. After a few moments the Acharya spoke in Samskrit and invited the Mahatma to take his seat. Gandhiji offered his obeisance and sat near the Acharya. He said that, as he was not used to speaking in Samskrit, he would use Hindi if that was permitted, and that he could understand what is spoken in Samskrit. So, the conversation took place without the need for an interpreter-the Acharya spoke in Samskrit, and Gandhiji in Hindi.

This was purely a private interview; there were no reporters; and except for one or two attendants of the math, no one was present. The conversation, which took place in a most cordial atmosphere, lasted for over an hour.

On taking leave of the Acharya, the Mahatma gave expression to the immense benefit he had derived from this unique meeting. How profoundly he was drawn to the Acharya will be evident from an incident that occurred during the interview. It was 5.30 in the evcning. Sri C. Rajagopalachari who had accompanied the Mahatma had been waiting outside, went inside the cattle-shed and reminded the Ma