A Legacy of Blessings (Sri Sri Chandrashekhara Bharathi)

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Any true spiritual seeker readily acknowledges the need for a Guru. Serious seeker experiences his own irritations and does not shy away from acknowledging the truth categorically stated in the Shasta’s ‘However intelligent one may be, Shasta’s cannot be studied without the guidance of a Guru. Brahman’s nature is beyond the intellect and is clearly inaccessible to the mental faculties. A Guru is absolutely essential for self realization’.

Every dashiki is faced with the difficult Question - Who canto be chosen as a Guru? What are the qualities of a true Guru? This is all the more relevant in the present day context. Shasta’s describe Guru as one who is totally well versed in the Shastras, Puranas and (these and whose conduct is in accordance with them and whose mind is constantly dwelling in the Brahman. He is totally unattached to worldly things, not interested in name and fame. He is free from ahankara - pride, kama - desire and krodha - anger. He lives in true peace and is always in righteous conduct sadachara. He has full control over his mind and Is contended with what little he gets. His compassion is boundless. The shastras have assured us, ‘If your desire for Moksha is very intense, you will surely meet with such a Guru’

The shastras also tell us ‘If such a Guru is found the sadhaka should immediately and unconditionally surrender to him. Such a Guru should not be mistaken for an ordinary human being. He must be shown the same reverence as one shows towards God’.

The acharyas who have adorned the Sringeri Sarada Peetham have been outstanding examples of vast learning, humility, renunciation and have displayed all the qualities of a true Guru. Sri. Sri. ChandraShekhara Bharathi Mahaswami, the 34h Jadadguru in this unbroken lineage of Acharyas was a great Jnani and a Jeevanmukta. He was thorough in his understanding of the shastras and was gifted with a rare ability to explain convincingly even the most subtle and difficult concepts, but He was a person of few words. Though being the Jagadguru of a renowned Perham with all the trappings of power and glory, though being much sought after, by the people from all sections of the society, He chose to be a recluse, remaining ever absorbed in Brahman, from a very young age. His deep sense of humility and renunciation is hard to come by. Many are those, whose lives have been transformed, merely by being in his presence, by his glance, or by his blessings. The study of the life of such a Jivanmuktha is worship in itself.

Sri Hurugalavadi Lakshminarasimha Shastry was born in the year 1929 at his grandparents house in Sringeri. Hurugalawadi a small village in Maddur taluk, was his native place. He lost his parents when he was 4 years old. His grandparents and uncle brought up the boy, who did his schooling in Mandya and Intermediate in Mysore. He joined the Postal department and became an efficient staff as well as a popular leader of the Postal employees. In his younger days he also participated in the freedom movement. Later, his involvement with the nation wide strike called by the P & T employees Union, got him transferred to Koppa near Sringeri. This helped Sri. Shastry to visit Sringeri again and again and see the most impressive temples and to have the blessings of the Jagadgurus. This has also provided him ample opportunity to go through the literature about Sringeri, interact with various devotees and know about the most revered Gurus of Shankara mutt Sri. Shastry started his literary work through poetry and brought five books. All his other works were in prose. The books written by hr are: 12 books on literature for children, 4 books on adult eat. 8 books on religious research, 15 biographies, 14 books on poufs of Stringer mutt and 11 books about Stringer, Shankaracharya are his followers. His work Letters from Swami Vivekananda to 1 disciple Aliasing Perusal has become very popular a-c e received the Kannada Sahitya Academy Award for He is an authority on topics related to Stringer mutt arc is His Holiness Sri Sri. Bharathi Teertha Mahaska j. -. Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetha’’ - with ‘Sharada Peetha Puraskar Award n the Year2009.

“A great man with no desires, he discharged his duties well, and having clone all he attained Samadhi in the Tunga river....

“Blessed are those who have seen him. Blessed are those who pray to him even now. Blessed are those who follow his teachings everyday. I bow to Sri Chandrasekhar Bharathi who is immersed in the contemplation of the Atman, always meditating on the Supreme Brahman, indifferent to sense objects, and a paragon of Vedic learning”

“Thousand prostrations to the great saint, Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi, who not only bears the name of Sharathi (Sarada), but also bears her in his heart aswell as his speech.

“That His Holiness occupied the famous seat of learning founded by the great Sri Sankaracharya, was the least among His qualifications. That he realized the Truth and lived it, is sufficient to endow His sayings and the incidents connected with Him incalculable value to all”

“He was not only a profound scholar and an unrivalled exponent old to ideals of Adi Sankara, but also tapas in of the most rigorous type. He a an evolved soul who lived in a rarefied atmosphere of detachment at absorption in the Infinite”

To appreciate music one has to be a Musician. Same way, to know a Mahatma, one has to be a Mahatma. Only a Saint can understand a Saint!

The 34th pontiff of Stringer led a very highly inspiring life. To think of Him, to write about Him is a blessing. He was always reveling in Brahman, the world was a play for Him.

For us mortals who are only experiencing the waking, dream and deep sleep state, even to think of this Mahatma is almost impossible. Thinking about Him is literally thinking about Brahman. 1-fe was constantly reveling in Turiya Stithi.

Just as we do not pay attention to our own children screaming in dream, for the Jnani the sorrows of samsara do not ruffle Him.

Pujya Swamiji was constantly revelling in a state beyond the Panchakoshas, the three States of experiences and beyond the three bodies. A state beyond the grasp of the mind and intellect. There is no day and night, past or future for Him. His state of experience is beyond time and space limitation. To know or to understand such a Mahatma, one has to go beyond the senses and mind, beyond the gunas and only then, one would be blessed with His presence.

To read the Glory of such a Mahatma, to write about Him and to even think of Him is the greatest blessing for us. Thus both the author and the readers are truly blessed to remember and reflect upon the life and teachings of Sri Chandrashekhara Bharathi.

I sincerely appreciate the devoted efforts of Sri. Chandrasheldiara Sharma who has translated into English, the original work of Sri. L.N. Shastry, Mysore.

This is my fourth book about Sri. Sri. Chandra shekhara Bharathi Mahaswami who was the Jagadguru of the Sri Sringeri Dakshinamnaya Peetham.

There are thousands of people, whose lives have become more fulfilling, sanctified and purposeful, by the Grace of Sri. Sri. Chandra shekhara Bharathi Mahaswami. Among them there are people of all religions. I have included the experiences of some of these devotees in my previous books, especially in the book -‘Avadhuta Guru Chandrashekhara Bharathi’. I have described many more instances in the present book. Sri. R.Krishna swami Iyer has, in his book — ‘Saint of sringeri - Sparks from the Divine Anvil’, narrated many such instances. Sri. S.G.Narasimhiah, who was a close attendant of Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami, has also narrated a few instances. But many of these are not available in print. As one makes a detailed study of the life of Sri. Sri. Chandra shekhara Bharathi Mahaswami, He appears to be an amazing riddle. His Grace and Divine powers would attract everybody. Like the saints and rishis of yore He was a great tapasvi who took birth in human form, only to bless the devotees.

I have been blessed with the darshan of the Mahaswami on three occasions. The first one was when I was a very young boy of age five or six years. As I was born in Sringeri, it is likely that my mother had taken me to receive the blessings of the Mahaswami. During that time, I had stayed in Stringer for a period of five to six months and can clearly recall the several occasions when I had gone to see the pooja of Lord Chandramouleeshwara. I also recall, the Mahaswami giving me prasadam of cashew, nuts, dates and sugar candy, after the pooja.

I had the second chance of receiving the darshan of His Holiness (HH) again when I was about nine years of age. Mahaswami was travelling from Bangalore to Nanjangud and stopped on the way at Mandya to bless the devotees who had assembled there. I had gone with my grandfather, Vedabramha Karala Narasimha Shastry to receive His darshan. The third occasion was, when I was twenty years old. I had the opportunity to have darshan of both the swamijis in Sringeri. The profound effect Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami had on me, the blessings and the prasadam I had received as a small boy, changed the very threction of my life when it was at crossroads.

As I learnt more and more about His life, incidents and Mahaswami’s greatness from my discussions with others, I had a strong yearning to write about His life. The first book I wrote about His life was read and approved by His disciple, Sri. Sri. Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswami, even before it went into print. He sent His blessings for my second book on Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami, titled — Tungeya Madila Tap asvi (the sage on the banks of the river rpunga) I offered the third book — Avadhuta Guru Sri. Chandrashehhara Bharathi, at the holy feet of Sri. Sri. Bharathi Teertha Mahaswami.

All activities of the society should be based on I)harma. Dharma implies ‘practice of moral values’. If we give up moral values for the sake of temporary and small time gains, we would surely face a downfall. When even animals and birds follow their value systems, if we human beings — the most superior creation in this universe - give up moral values, we would become inferior to animals and birds.

The life of Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami who repeatedly stressed on moral values, and guided everybody towards, leading a moral life, is very relevant today

I humbly dedicate this book at the Lotus feet of our most revered Guru Sri. Sri. Bharathi Teertha Mahaswami.

My grandfather, a devotee of Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami and Sri.Ramanamaharishi used to call me and my brother, by the names, Chandrashekhara and Arunachala, though we were named Mahesh Kumar and Arun Kumar by our parents. Little did we realize during our childhood, the greatness of these saints whose names he wished to chant, everytime he addressed us.

The year 1995, was a year of great blessing for me. In Feb 1995, I visited Sringeri for the first time with my father. In March 1995, I was fortunate to hear from Sri. Huragalawadi Lakshmi Narasimha Shastry, a detailed narration of the great humility, extraordinary sense of renunciation and intense tapas that were the hallmarks of the life of Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami. I immediately read three books; the first - Avadhoota Guru Sri. Sri. Chandra shehhara Bharathi and the second- Tungeya Madila Tapasvi both written by Sri. L.N.Shastry, and the third book Sharada Peethada Man ikya written by Sri. S.K. Ramachandra Rao. All these books gave graphic details of HIS life. It was apparent that Sri. Sri. Chancjrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami was a rare sage, a God realized soul and a good example for a true Guru.

Books which detail the incidents ifl the life of holy saints offer valuable guidance to spiritual aspirants. The advice and instructions given by the saint to His devotees apply to all seekers. It clears our doubts and brings clarity and focus in our approach to spirituality. I felt it would be helpful if this book was translated to English as it would be available to a larger section of the society. This work of translation is a humble effort to develop devotion towards this great tapasvi. I submit this most reverentially at His lotus feet.

I consider it a blessing that Swami Brahmananda — Resident Acharya — Chinmaya Mission, Bangalore has been kind enough to write the Foreword. I offer my sashtang pranams to him. PADMASHREE Dr.H.C. Visvesvaraya has kindly consented to review the book I thank him for his kindness Sri. Huragalawadi Lakshmi Narasimha Shastry, the author of the original book in Kannada, has given me valuable support and has, guided a novice like me in all stages of this translation. Sri. K.V. Varadaraja Iyengar, himself an author of several books, has been kind enough to help me with the proof reading. He has been meticulous and has ensured the book is presentable. Sri. Anand nnd Sri. Thyagarajan of Advaita Research Foundation — Sringeri Sharada Peetham, have inspite of their busy schedule gone through the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions and corrected many typographical errors. They have also provided many rare photographs of Kis Holiness for use in this book. I am deeply indebted to them. I offer my pranams to all of them.

My sincere thanks to my relatives and friends who helped me collect the shiokas composed on Sri. Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami, and in checking the manuscript. Vagartha Printers have taken a lot of personal interest and have put in great efforts to develop an appealing layout for the book. I appreciate their sincerity and thankfully iicknowledge their efforts.