Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri
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[edit] Bramasri Parithiyur Krishna Sastri
Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri(1855 – 1911), also known as Brahmasri Parithiyur Krishna Sastrigal, was born in the calm and tiny village Paruthiyur on the northern banks of Kudamuruti River, near Sengalipuram, in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu, in a Brahmin family to Ramaseshan and Lakshmi. Even as a young child Krishna Sastri was a keen observer of the daily prayers of his parents and he would recite a few mantras along with them. Little did they know at that time that this little Krishna would be a great Mahaan one day
Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri grew up to become the greatest exponent of the Ramayana. He was a Sanskrit scholar well versed in Vedas and Sastras, Puranas and Ithihasas, A great poet, writer, composer, singer, astrologer, philosopher and a great Harikatha Kalakshepa and Pravachan Pundit and he was a Philanthropist known for his Dhaana and Dharma and above all he was the greatest Bhakta ~ Devotee.
[edit] Early Life
As children of his community in those days, Krishna Sastri started his gurukul education at an early age of seven under Sengalipuram Muthanna Sastri. Within a few years he learnt Prose, Poetry, Grammar, Kavyam, Nadakam, Alankaram and Veda Sastram and Vedantha. Muthanna Sastri encouraged him to conduct discourses in the Ramayana and presented him with a “ Srimad Ramayana” book. Later from the age of fourteen, he underwent intense training in the Vedas and the Sanskrit language and the from RajaMannargudi Mahamahopathyaya Thyagaraja Mahi Raju Sastri. By the age of 18, Krishna Sastri took all the required examinations conducted by Thiruvananthapuram Government for completing his education in the Vedas and received all the awards of distinction. He soon became a great scholar in Vedanta and the Sanskrit.
[edit] Manthropadesam
Before this Gurukul life, Krishna Sastri had got his "Ramanama Manthropadesam" from Marudhanallur Kodandarama Swamigal at the age of twelve. The Swami blessed him, gave him a Manthropadesam and said that no other mantra or sloka is more powerful than “ Rama Nama ” and if he recites the Rama Nama a crore times with love and devotion he could even see the Lord himself! Ever since then, “ Sarvam Rama Mayam ” - everything was Rama for Krishna Sastri and all what he did all his life was Ram Nam Japam. Rama-Rama, Rama-Rama
[edit] Family
Krishna Sastri had great respect for his parents and elders. When he finished his education, he was married to Subbalakshmi and had three sons Venkat Raman, Kalyana Raman & Pattabi Raman and three daughters Seethalakshmi, Sethulakshmi and Sampurnalakshmi. Krishna Sastri was particular that his children were educated in the Hindu scriptures and the Sanskrit and Tamil languages. He always encouraged them to read the Ramayana.
[edit] Ramayana Sastri
Sastri read the Ramayana again and again and was able to understand greater depths of the epic. He did not use his knowledge of the Vedas or Vedanta for making money. His love and devotion to Lord Rama dominated his life. When Thiruvanandapuram Maharaja’s government offered him a job to teach Vedanta, he refused and made a living only through Ramayana Pravachans. Sastri soon became an authority on Valmikis’s Ramayana to the extent that he came to be called by people of his town as “ Ramayana Sastrigal ”. He had an amazing knowledge of the Sanskrit and Tamil language that was seen in his captivating discourses that even his guru was astounded by.
[edit] Parithiyur Pravachan Pandit
In course of time, Brahmashri Krishna Sasthrigal became a great exponent of the Ramayana and his Discourses were very famous during his time. He started his first public Pravachans at the age of 17 at Sethubala Swamigal Madam at Vadakarai. On the first day of his discourse there were 4 people listing to him, the next day there were 40, the third day there were 400 & and from the fourth day onwards there were about 4000 people filling the streets of the small village listening to the captivating Pravachans. The news of the captive and emotional Pravachans spread far and wide. People started coming from near by towns and far away villages to listen to him. Imagine addressing such a big audience during the days when technology was not developed. There were no mikes or amplifiers. He was very fluent in Tamil and the Sanskrit languages and his stories and interpretation of the Ramayana were very captivating. The words were flowing from him like a river. He composed beautiful and intricate slokas and introduced them into his Pravachans. Hearing about the Pravachan, Kings, members of the royal family, ministers, landlords, zamindars, attended the Pravachans and Sastri started receiving valuable gifts and sanmanams. Gifts came as clothes, grains, jewellery, and money.
Reading the original sloka and presenting the meaning was the methodology followed by Pravachan Pundits before. Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri was the first exponent who gave various interpretations and commentary to each verse and created a new style and was considered the ‘Father of Pravachans’
[edit] Kashi Yatra
Krishna Sasti visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and bathed in the Holi Ganges during his visit to Kashi. Since Sastri was very fluent in Sanskrit he was able to manage in North India very well. At the request of many devotees and the blessings of his Guru, Krishna Sastri agreed to conduct Ramayana Pravachan on a Banarasi Mandap near the Ganges. He stayed in Kashi for over a year and delivered continuous discourses on the Ramayana. It is even said that Sastris Pravachans became so popular there that, he even had guests from the royal family from the kingdom of Kashi among the audience.
[edit] Magic in Madras
In 1893, Krishna Sastri came to Madras and conducted “Bhagavatha Saptaham” a seven day Pravachan at Govinda Nayakar Street. Bhagavata purana written by Vyasa propagates Bhakti yoga or divine love. Famous industrialist of that time, Meiyappa Chettiyar who organized the program in Madras presented him with a big valuable gold medal after the Pravachan. Sastri literally had to travel back to Paruthiyur with loads of appreciation and gifts from devote
This particular incident that happened in Madras needs special mention. Sastri’s eloquence in Sanskrit and Ramayana and the way in which he was able to explain things attracted a large audience and one day during his lectures in George Town Madras, the street was over crowded and the local police had issues of managing the crowd. The then British Governor of Madras Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock (1891-1896) who happened to pass through was thrilled by the way Sastri mesmerized the large crowd into pin drops silence. Beilby Lawley asked “ Sastri Sir how did you managed such a large crowd? What magic did you use?” Sastri smiled and replied, “ I can also make them sound in a single voice” He then turned towards the audience and said: “ Jai Janaki - Kanta Smaranam ” And the crowd in a single voice replied “ Jaya Jaya Rama Rama ”. The Governor was further impressed. He reported the Sastri’s scholarship to his higher authorities and soon Sastri received a certificate of appreciation along with a golden Anklet Ring (Toda) with the Royal British Emblem.
[edit] Works
He bought paper, he made vegetable ink from Kadukkai himself and used peacock feather as pen and kept his notes and organized his Pravachans. Some of his great written works include a drama called Gowmudhisomam, a Ramayana explanatory work called Rasanishyandini and "Nandhi Mangala Slokas" were a tribute to his Guru. They were printed in Granta Akshara letters.
Rasanishyandini, is a conversation between Vishwamitra and Dasaratha regarding the various facets of Lord Rama. Sage Viswamitra asked Dasaratha's help in slaying the demons who were giving him hindrance in his yagnas. He asked for Rama to accompany him to the forest to fight the demons, refusing the assistance of the huge army of soldiers that Dasaratha was ready to place at his disposal. Dasaratha was agonised about sending his young son to fight against mighty demons and is hesitating to send Rama with him, as he feels Rama is still a child but Vishwamitra knows the real strength of Rama and tries to confront each doubt of Dasaratha with a beautiful explanation. With two words AHAM and VEDHMI, Sastri brings the virtues of Lord Rama through 100 beautifully structured slokas in Sanskrit in Rasanishyandini.
He used a lot of dramatic words and rhyming sentences and the words just came from his mouth without any control as he spoke at the discourses. The Pravachans became the talk of the town. Many Harikatha Scholars and Pravachan Pandits used the style and notes of Krishna Sastri in the later years.
Some of Parithiyur Krishna sastri’s works include:
- Gowmudhisomam Sanskrit Tamil
- Kowmudhisomam, Telugu
- Rasanishyandini,
- Nandhi Mangala Slokas,
- Kavivilasa Manidharpanam,
- Lakshminarayana Dhvisahasri,
- Sita Kalyanam
- Ganga Sadhagam,
- Mahalakshmi Sadhagam,
- Meenakshi Sadhagam,
- Yeka Chakrapuram,
- Krishna Sastri’s Ramayanam with commentary,
- Balakanda with Commentary,
- Songs in Tamil and Sanskrit on Rama, Mahalakshmi, Anjaneya, Narayana and Shiva.
[edit] Ishta Deviam
Sri Kalyana Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Parithiyur was one of Krishna Sastri’s favorite temples in the area. Sastri did Rama Nama Parayanam in the temple padithurai in the mornings. One day after his early morning snanam at the Kaveri continuing Rama Nama Japam, to his astonishment his hands hit a rock under the water at the temple pond, when he cleared the sand around it he found the a beautiful idol of Kodanda Rama! Rama with Kodhanda Bow. He called a few of the devotees and continued the search around the area in the pond and they came up with the complete set of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya, the statues belonged to the 10th century early Chola period!. The Lord has indeed come to him like an answer to his countless prayers. Ever since the Idols came to him he could realize the purpose of his Krishna Sastri realized that the idols have come to him for a purpose and he should provide them a place. He got the necessary permissions to construct a Kodandarama Sannadhi in the Kalyana Varadaraja Perumal Temple.
This was Krishna Sastri’s Paruthiyur Kodanda Rama, which is very famous and powerful. Praying to this Paruthyur Kodanda Rama ensures Peace and Prosperity and unity and bonding in the family life, just like in the life of Lord Rama, where there was immense parental love and brothers stood for each other at all times. Krishna Sastri had spent all his earnings and his properties for the renovation of the temples in Paruthiyur. Krishna Sastri and his son Sri PK. Pattabhirama Sastri performed Kumbabishekams in Paruthiyur in 1905 and 1945 respectively for the temples in Paruthiyur. Even recently, Paruthiyur Kainkarya Trust, Devotees and family members conducted Kumbabishekam in 2003. Devotees visiting this blessed area and the temples and prayers to this Kodhanda Rama, will give everyone all the prosperity, Subheksham, family bonding and the Grace of the Lord.
[edit] Life Style
Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri had a busy schedule of Rama Nama Japams and Pravachans. He led a simple life with no ego or greed or need for any materialistic things. He ate simple food and led a righteous humble life. He slept only very few hours of the night. Most of the time it was Rama Nama Japam. His Pravachans became world famous. Rama Nama was his life and he was fortunate that even his livelihood was related to his Istadeivam, Lord Rama. Mornings he woke up very early, bathed in Kaveri. He did puja at his home Mandir shrine, with his Rama idols and Shaligramams. Then he visited the temples and did Rama Nama Parayanam at his Kodhandarama Sannadhi until 10 am. He then prepared for his evening Pravachanams. Sometimes he consulted with learned elders and got their opinion on some interpretations. After lunch he spent time composing slokas. He visited and paid his respects to his Guru before every Pravachan. He integrated these compositions into his Pravachans and stories. Krishna Sastri’s life was not just spiritual exercises, study of scriptures, meditation, prayers and Pravachans, he thoroughly analyzed Rama’s life and realized a sacred path to God realization and tried to follow the principles in his life also.
One most important quality of Sastri, which needs to be mentioned, is his Charity & Dharma. Though he received so many gifts and money for his Pravachans he did not keep any of them for himself or his family. He gave them all away as dharmam.! He could not tolerate anyone without food or clothes; he would be saddened and give away whatever he had. The only wealth he really wanted was his sacred Puja idols and the Srimad Ramayanam book given by his guru. Though Sastri made a lot of money, he never let the wealth conquer him. He lived on his need not on his greed. He was a great Philanthropist and gave away all he had to the needy.
[edit] Guru Bakthi
Krishna Sastri had great respect for his Gurus. Many of his compositions mention his guru Bakthi. He gets the blessings of his guru before each Pravachan and before he did anything new. His Guru Raju Sastri told Krishna Sastri “You are a shishya for me just like Lord Rama was for Vishwamitra. I have learnt a lot from your qualities -You are a Mahaanubhavan, you will bring great joy to many people” It really happened as his teacher blessed. Krishna Sastri Pravachans were becoming very popular and many were blessed to hearing them. Sastri owed his fame and popularity and his excellence in pravachans to his guru Sengalipuram Sri Muthanna Sastri. He performed agnihothram yagna for his guru in Kashi. After his Guru attained siddi in 1893, he conducted “Sri Muthanna Aradhana” every year in memory of his Guru. He did “Soma Yagam” in Srirangam, “Adhirudhra Yagam” in his Paruthiyur Kodandarama Temple along with other disciples of Muthanna. Even today Sengalipuram remembers Krishna Sastri as a genius and devoted Shishya of Muthannaval.
[edit] Son's death
In 1908, his son Venkat Raman died and this came as a severe blow to him. He was saddened by this incident and started thinking that he had spent all his life praying to Vishnu (Rama) & he should have shown his devotion towards Shiva also. He decided to add a Shiva shrine to the Temple. The Idol of Shiva Linga was ready. The plans for constructing the Sannadhi were getting ready. Sadness of his son’s death continued to bother him. He told his sons Kalyana Rama and Pattabhi Rama “I could realize the pain, grief and distress, King Dasaratha would have gone through when Lord Rama left for his Vanavasam”. In the Ramayana, Dasaratha was proclaiming that such sorrows are incidental and they come because of our relationship and attachment to the human body. Even in his sadness and sleep Sastri never gave up his Rama Nama Japa.
He read the Ramayana once again; he seemed to be slowly recovering from the incident. A week later he developed a simple fever and fell ill. He refused to take any medication. “When I have my Rama I don’t need any medication” he said. But his health did not improve. He had only Milk and Tulsi water for his last days. He knew that the time has come. He was able to predict the day and time of his death. He called his sons Kalyana Raman and Pattabhi Raman and said, “ I can hear the call from Lord Rama, and it is time for me to leave this earth. I hope to leave on Dhuvadasi (12th day) the same day as my Guru. It's the natural Circle of Life and it moves us all through despair and hope, through faith and love, until we find our place on the path unwinding in this Circle. I have found mine and I am going to be happier with the Lord. Everyone who is born must go one day and now it is my turn. So do not be sad.” The sons were surprised on hearing this but they did not want to believe what he was saying. They hoped that their father would live much longer as he was just having a normal fever.
[edit] Kapala Moksha
He concentrated on intense Rama Bhakti and was able to acquire the ‘Power of Focus’ and the ‘Power of Detachment'. On that day, it was Dhuvadasi, Sastri recited “ Kamamevam Vidholokaha ” sloka and did Dhyanam for a long time. Then he continued his Ram Nam Japam until his very end. May be the Crore count had happened and the Lord had come to see him! As he had wished, on this day, this Mahaan attained Kapala Moksha at an early age of 56. It was the month of Thai, Krishnapaksham Dhuvadasi, the same day of the year his Guru Sri Muthannaval, had had also died.
Kapala means Head, Moksha is liberation. Liberation from a wheel of succeeding incarnations. Kapala Moksha is when the life energy or prana leaves the body through the small crack in the Sahasraha chakra in the crown of the head. The Yogi who gets such a moksha enjoys the Supreme Bliss, Parama Ananda, superconscious state and the Highest Knowledge. This kind of an end happens to only a selected few who have a special blessing from the Lord, those who do not have rebirth. Such Mahaans are liberated from a wheel of succeeding incarnations. Before the burial of such divine saints, it was necessary as per the prescribed procedure, to crack the skull open by breaking a coconut on it to release the soul.
According to Kanchi Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal , known as Kanchi Maha Perival, of Kanchi matha Kamakoti Peetham only two persons attained salvation of their souls through a natural Kapala Moksha. Saint Tyāgarāja the great composer of Carnatic music & Brahmasri Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri, the great exponent of the Ramayana. Both of them were great Bakthas and admirers of the Hindu God Rama. No coconut breaking procedures were conducted on these two great saintly men. It happened naturally. In 1911, Kodavasal, Tanjore District, South India, surrounded by his devotees friends, neighbors and family members, Krishna Sastri’s prana left his body through a small crack naturally happening in the Sahasra chakra in the head, in the form of a Jyothi being released into the sky from the Kapalam during the time of death. 'Kapala moksha' is considered to be the highest method by which the soul can leave the body. With this Parithiyur Sri Krishna Sastri was Brahmavidvarishtha or a full-blown Jnani. Sastri attained moksha and become one with Lord Rama.
Sastri was a man of devotion, discipline and duty, a person of wisdom and intellect and in a nutshell, a divine presence. He has shown the humanity an easy path to attain Salvation through Bhakti. People, young and old, rich and the poor came to the Pravachans and chanted the sacred name of Rama along with Sastri with great devotion. Through his lifestyle, Pravachans, his slokas and poetic verses, Krishna Sastri has taken on to guide humanity.
