Sri Sacchidananda Bharati I

Sacchidananda Bharati I (Tamil: ஸ்ரீ ஸச்சிதாநந்த பாரதீ - 1, Devanāgarī: श्रीसच्चिदानन्द भारती - 1), was a Hindu sant and religious leader of the 17th century. He was the Jagadguru (literally worldwide spiritual master, sometimes translated "pontiff"^[1]) of the Hindu matha (monastic or similar religious establishment) Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1623 to 1663, and is believed to have saved it from attack by spiritual means.^[2][3][4]

Early life

Sacchidananda was born Narasimha in the 1607 A.D.^[5][6] in the village of Srikanteswarapuram (Sanskrit: श्रीकण्ठ॓श्वरपुरम्) now known as Kunnuvarankottai (Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi-Viswanathar temple#Kunnuvarankottai-Tamil: குன்னுவாரங்கோட்டை) or Kannapatti (Tamil: கண்ணாபட்டி) near Batlagundu in the southern part of India.^{[7] [8][9]} This village was in Madurai District and is presently located in the Dindigul district (from 1985 onwards) of Tamil Nadu.^[10]

Pontificate

Sachchidananda Bharati was ordained pontiff of the Sringeri Sharadha Peetam in 1623.^[11] When he ascended the pontificial chair, the southern part of India was beset with civil war and turmoil. Sachchidananda Bharati soon acquired mastery over the Vedas and shastras and visited many famous shrines including Madurai Meenakshi Temple. It can be observed from his biography that he lived in Madurai also for a short period during his Brahmacharya and learned the Vedas and Sastras there. Initially, he wanted to marry the daughter of his maternal uncle. But the then Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati^[12][13] advised him in favor of celibacy and persuaded him to become a sanyasin (Hindu monk).^[14][15]

Sachchidananda Bharathi-I is considered by his devotees to have saved Sringeri through his penance and austerities during a period when Sringeri was attacked by a neighboring King Bhairava of Kalasapuram thrice.^[16] The King of Ikkeri, Veerabhadra Nayaka ^[17][18] came in support of the Sringeri Mutt and the surrounding territory. He was defeated by King Bhairava twice and thus Bhairava was emboldened to attack Sringeri the third time.^[19] Sri Sachidananda Bharathi-I prayed for divine help through his penance and austerities. The next day, the Jagadguru was informed that he had left the town. The Guru had a dream later in which the surrounding deities informed him that they had defended and protected Sringeri.^[20][21]

Sachchidananda Bharathi-I is considered by his devotees to have saved Sringeri and contributed to its fame.^[22][23] He was also regarded as a good administrator, and well regarded and respected by all people of all faiths and all sections of society.^[24]

Visit to the Dhyana mandapam in the memory of the 25th Pontiff of Sri Sachidananda Bharathi-I

Lord Visalakshi Vishwanatha Temple Tower

An Inscription of the 25th Pontiff Sri Sachidananda Bharathi-I

Biographies

The most popular biography of Sachchidananda Bharati is by R.Krishnaswami Iyer who based his biography on Sanskrit manuscripts from the period.^{[25] [26]} While studying the Ramachandra Mahodaya Kavya of Sri Sachchidananda Bharati swami, the 25th Jagadguru as per the advice of Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Theertha Swamigal, he discovered another manuscript dealing with the life of that Jagadguru and bearing the title - Sri Ramachandra Mahodaya Kavya Kartru Swarupa Prakasam.^[27]

Compositions, Hymns and Works

Sri Sacchidananda Bharati (I) is said to have composed Gurustutisatakam (Sanskrit: गुरुस्तुति शतकम्)which details the lives of all the Acharyas of Sringeri from Adi Sankara till the 24th Pontiff Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati.^[28] He has also composed other hymns and metrical works such as Meenakshi Satakam (Sanskrit: मीनाक्षी शतकम्), Meenakshi Ashtakam (Sanskrit: मीनाक्षी अष्टकम्) in the remembrance of His stay in Madurai and visit to the Goddess Meenakshi temple, Rama Bhujanga (Sanskrit: रामभुजङ्गम्), Kovidashtakam and Ramachandra Mahodayakavyam.^[29][30]It is to be noted that Rama Bhujangam has been composed in a meter belonging to the Bhujanga group. (See Sanskrit_prosody). Many authors have referred in their articles to a notable verse in the Rama Bhujanga which means that this Bhujangam (snake) is said to drive away the lust and anger (rats) when it is enshrined in one's heart. ^{[31][32][33][34][35]}

Sri Sacchidananda Bharati (I) built and consecrated the Goddess Bhavani shrine within the temple of Sri Malahanikareshwara on the top of a hillock in Sringeri. Several festivals including the rathotsava were started by the 25th Jagadguru which are being celebrated even to this day.^[36]

During the visit of Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal of Sringeri Sarada Peetam in May 2012 to Madurai, He released a book on “Sri Meenakshi Shatakam (Sanskrit: मीनाक्षी शतकम्) consisting of about 122 verses on Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. (See para above) composed by this 25th Pontiff.^[37]

Places associated with Sachchidananda Bharati I

The village of Kunnuvarankottai is an important place of pilgrimage associated with Swami Sachchidananda Bharati.^[38] This village is served by three rivers Vaigai (Vaigai River), Maruda and Manjalaru called as Triveni Sangam Sanskrit: त्रिवेणी सङमम् - Tamil: த்ரிவேணீ - சங்கமம் - Meaning - Tri - Three , Veni - river , Sangam - Confluence (as mentioned in the biography).^[39] The river Vaigai takes a slightly northern course (Tamil: உத்தரவாஹினீ, Sanskrit: उत्तरवाहिनी also known as Ganga (Ganges) in Varanasi) near this village. It is inferred from the article in "Amman Darisanam" and the author's foreword in Part-II of the biography that the 35th Pontiff Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal and the current pontiff Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal have visited this village. The author R Krishnaswamy Iyer has made an anecdotal reference in the foreword of Part-II, regarding the visit, the holy dip of the 35th pontiff in the point of confluence of these rivers,His visit to old Koti Mukteeswarar temple here, performance of His daily Sri Sarada Chandramouleeswara Puja in this nearby village and His benedictory talk on the significance of this area (Sthalam (Tamil: ஸ்தலம்)" (Sanskrit: स्थलम्) in 1965.

The Jayanthi (birthday) of 25th Pontiff Sri Sri Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Maha Swamigal is mentioned in the biography as in the month of Sravana-Rohini star.^[40] The Jayanthi is celebrated in this Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi-Viswanathar temple as per the advice and benedictions of 35th pontiff (refer His talk above) every year by devotees from 1965. The article in Amman Darisanam also mentions about the Kumbhabhisekham of this temple in 2001. Shri V.Viswanatha Sivachariyaar is the priest of this temple.^[41][42] There are other shrines for Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Bhairava, and Hanuman also.^{[43] [44]}

With the blessings and benevolence of Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Swamigal and with the help of devotees, the Kumbhabhishekam of this temple was completed in January 2013 and a mandapam was constructed in front of Lord Sri Dakshinamoorthy shrine in this temple.^[45][46]

This is a photograph of the remains of the old Koti Mukteeswarar temple which is found in the biography. The outer wall of this temple contains an ancient Tamil inscription that refers to this village as "Thiru Kanta Vinnagaram (Tamil: திருகண்டவிண்ணகரம்)" (Sanskrit: श्रीकण्ठ॓श्वरपुरम् - Srikanteswarapuram in Sanskrit). This temple was near the point of confluence of the three rivers before it is believed by the locals to have been damaged by natural calamities (like floods). The current village settlement and temple of Lord Visalakshi Viswanathar half-a-kilometre away is believed to have been reconstructed after the damage done by natural calamities (like floods).^[47]

Visit on 2 June 2012

Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal visited this village during his visit to the town of Batlagundu in June 2012.^[48] He visited the Dhyana mandapam of the 25th pontiff and the Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi-Viswanathar temple. The devotees of this village organized a function in the premises of this temple to welcome the Jagadguru. In the Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that the 25th pontiff, Sri Sri Sri Sacchidananda Bharati I had reigned as the Peethadhipati for about 40 years and had enhanced the greatness of the Peetham. Jagadguru appreciated the efforts of the villagers for having built a Dhyana Mandapam in this village for Sri Sri Sri Sacchidananda Bharati I.^[49] He recalled his visits to this village in 1987 and his Guru’s visit in 1965 and blessed the residents of this village along with the proposed construction of a mandapam in the Vishalakshi Vishwanathar temple^[50][51]

Later, the Jagadguru visited the ruins of the ancient temple which still exists near the point of confluence of the rivers. According to the villagers, this temple and the nearby tree was part of an ancient village that housed the poorvashrama home of the 25th pontiff. They also mentioned that the ancient village had been washed away by natural calamities like floods.^[52]>^[53]

Arrival of Bharathi Teertha Swamigal, pontiff of Sringeri Sarada Peetam in the village of Kunnuvarankottai on June 2nd 2012

Photograph of the entry into Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi Viswanatha temple of Bharathi Teertha Swamigal, pontiff of Sringeri Sarada Peetam on June 2nd 2012

Remains of old Koti Mukteeshwar temple near the point of confluence with the majestic Kodaikanal Hills range in the background. Siddhar Malai, a hillock also seen inside pic.

With the blessings and benevolence of Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Swamigal and with the help of devotees, the Kumbhabhishekam of this temple was completed in January 2013 and a mandapam was constructed in front of Lord Sri Dakshinamoorthy shrine in this temple.^[54][55]

See also

• Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham

References

External sources

• Biography of Jagadguru Sri Sachchidananda's life (1623–1663) (ENGLISH Edition) by R. Krishnaswami Iyer (Swami Jnanananda Bharati).
• http://www.sringeri.net/jagadgurus/the-later-acharyas-2
• R. Venkataramani. (August 2003. P. 8,9,10,11,12,13). "Sringeri Sarada Peedathin 25th Peetadhipadhi - Mudalam Sachchidananda Bharathi", 'Amman Darisanam', Tamil Periodical. சிருங்கேரி சாரதா பீடத்தின் 25வது பீடாதிபதி - முதலாம் ஸச்சிதானந்த பாரதீ, அம்மன் தரிசனம், தமிழ் பத்திரிகை
• Swami Saccidananda Bharati (I), Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri, Gurustutisatakam, Sri Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam, 1971, Library Of Congress, Washington D.C., U.S.A, LC Call No.: MLCS 93/1716 (B) - Refer Library of Congress catalog in http://catalog.loc.gov/
• http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~vs28/S.Vidyaraman/Sringeri/index.htm
• Sri Sankara krupa, Tamil Periodical, Tiruchirapalli, 1962.
• S.R. Swami. (November 2008. P. 432). "Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi-I - Acharyalin Varaltru Thoguppu", 'Amman Darisanam', Deepavali Special edition, Tamil Periodical
• 'Tattvaloka', English Monthly Magazine. (October 2009. P. 50). "News and Events - Books Released" - New book on 'Gurustutishatakam', a eulogy of Sringeri Guruparampara composed by the 25th Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sachchidananda Bharathi Mahaswamiji with a commentary pertaining to Vedanta, Vyakarana and Tantra by Sri Lakshmana Sharma.
• Online Link - http://www.tattvaloka.com/Documents/4.NewsEventsOct09.htm
• Sri Sri Sri Sacchidananda Bharati Mahasvaminah with commentary by Sri Lakshmana Sarma, Samskrit Book. (October 2009.). "Sri Gurustutisatakam", Sri Shankara Advaita Research Center, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharda Peetham, Sringeri, Karnataka, Sri Offset - Vidya Bharati Press, Shankarapuram, Bangalore.
• श्रीभारतीतीर्थवॆदशास्त्रग्रन्थमाला - दशमं कुसुमम् - ॥ गुरुस्तुतिशतकम् ॥ - शृङ्गगिरिजगद्गुरु श्रीसच्चिदानन्दभारतीमहास्वामिविरचितम् - व्य़ाख्याता लक्ष्मणशर्मा -सम्पादाक: - विद्वान् एम् . ए . नागराजभट्ट: गिरि: - श्रीश्रीजगद्गुरुशङ्कराचार्य महासंस्थानम् दक्षिणाम्नाय श्रीशारदापीठम्, शृङ्गगिरि: - (October 2009).
• http://www.sringeri.net/branches/tamil-nadu/vattalagundu - Link to Sringeri mutt branch in Vattalagundu and reference to Dhyana mandapam in Kunnuvarankottai.
• http://www.gnananandabharathi.org/ - Link to the website of Swami Gnananda Bharathi (Sri R. Krishnaswamy Iyer), his biography, his publications in Tamil and English and photo gallery.
• K. Narayanaswamy, Vidyaranyapuram (Sringeri). (October 2009. P. 074,075,076,077,078,079). "Sringeriyil Olirntha Madurai Maharatnam",சிருங்கேரியில் ஒளிர்ந்த மதுரை மஹாரத்தினம், Amman Darisanam, Deepavali Special Edition, Tamil Periodical.
• K Venkateswaran, Madurai (March 1–15, 2010. P. 38, 39, 40, 41). "Kunnuvarankottai Ulaga Naayagan"" Tamil: குன்றுவாரங்கோட்டை உலக நாயகன், 'Kumudham Bhakthi Special' Tamil: குமுதம் பக்தி ஸ்பெஷல், Tamil Periodical.
• Re. Ramamurthy. (February 2010. P. 11). "Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsar Aruliya Inkadhai Kavidai', Saravana Padippagam,Tamil: பண்டித திரு. ரெ. ராமமூர்த்தி, வித்துவான் ரா. அரங்க கிருஷ்ணன், ஸ்ரீ ராமக்ருஷ்ண பரமஹம்சர் அருளிய இன்கதை கவிதை, சரவணா பதிப்பகம் Chinmaya Nagar, Chennai-600 092, Collection of Tamil poems and short stories.
• (29-8-2010, P.7). "Kunnuvarankottayil Sacchidananda Bharathi Jayanthi",குன்னுவாரங்கோட்டையில் சச்சிதாநந்த பாரதீ ஜயந்தி, Dinamalar Tamil Daily newspaper, Madurai and Dindigul Editions.
• http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/sacred-places/2007/11/16/a-place-for-the-dead-and-the-living.html - Link for Varanasi
• http://nwda.gov.in/writereaddata/sublink2images/239.pdf - Reference to Vaigai river and its tributaries

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dindigul.

• http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net/vathalagundu-june-1-2012/ - Visit of the current pontiff on June 1–2, 2012 to Kunnuvarankottai and Vathalagundu - This contains the photographs taken in the village along with the inscriptions
• http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net - Website of Sringeri Sarada Peetam for the visit of the current pontiff to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in 2012.
• http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net/madurai-may-21-2012/ - Visit to Madurai of the current pontiff of Sringeri Sarada Peetam in 2012 and release of the book on "Meenakshi Shatakam" in Madurai.
• http://www.sringeri.net/temples/sri-malahanikareshwara/sri-bhavani - Goddess Bhavani Shrine in the Sri Malahanikareshwara Temple in Sringeri
• (13-10-2013). "Sri Viswanathar Temple", Dinamalar Tamil daily newspaper, - http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=1145 -Website covering the features of this temple on the Vijayadasami day.