Annamalaiyar Temple –Seshadriswamigal Ashram
Seshadriswamigal Ashram is located at Thiruvannamalai,
one of the most religious towns in Tamil Nadu. Sri Seshadri Swamigal is the
religious master for many people living around the world. He worshipped Lords
Arunachala, Ram and Goddess Kamakshi. He performed penance at Draupadi Amman
Koil. He educated the people about the Arunachala kshetra’s uniqueness. Ramana
Maharshi and Seshadri Swamigal lived at Annamalai during the same period.
People in the locality called Ramana Maharshi as Thambi
(younger brother) and Seshadri Swamigal as Anna (elder brother). A series was
produced by DD Podhigai based on the life of Sri Seshadri and is named as
"Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mahathmiyam". Sri Seshadri Swamigal, also
known as the "Saint with a golden hand”
Life Story of Seshadri Swamigal
In the 8th Century Sri Adi Sankara Acharya established
Sri Vidya cult in Kanchipuram and he spread Sri Vidya cult across the globe.
Thirty families from Central India were brought to Kanchipuram and they are
known as Kamakoti Vamsa. The person belonging to that Vamsa lives like a rishi
and spreads Sri Vidya cult. Kamakoti Sastri was one among them and he was born
in 1790. He adopted a daughter from his brother even though he had a daughter
during that time. When she grew young he married that girl to one of his
students by name Varadarajar. The couple lived happily but remained childless
for several years.
One day Goddess Sri Kamakshi appeared in the dream of
Kamakoti Shastrigal and stated that the couple would get an heir. Likewise the
couple gave birth to a male child and they name the kid Seshadri. During his
childhood days Seshadri sang and performed poojas regularly. On seeing this
everyone stated that he was god’s blessed child.
Childhood:
Seshadri Swamigal was born on January 22, 1870. As a
child he had spontaneous trances. At age four Seshadri received his nickname,
'Golden Hand'. One day Seshadri and his mother stopped at a shop full of bronze
castings of the Gods. While at the shop the young lad picked up a statue of
Krishna and asked his mother to buy it so he could perform Krishna puja. The
trader, thinking that the radiant child himself resembled the Lord Krishna,
gave the idol and refused payment.
The next day the trader proclaimed the boy to be most
lucky as the whole consignment of 1,000 statues (because of the young boy's
touch), had been sold in one day. News of the incident spread quickly through
the town and from that moment on the young boy was known as, 'The one with the
golden hand'. This gave him the name "Thanga Kai" (golden hand).
Aged 14, his father Sri Varadarajar died unexpectedly.
Kamakoti Shastrigal took the family to live at Vazhur. It was there that
Swamiji completed his education. Aged 17 his mother died and Seshadri uncle
took charge of Seshadri and the younger brother Narasimha Josiar.
In Thiruvannamalai:
At the age of 19, in the year 1889 AD, he reached
Thiruvannamalai and never left its outskirts, till he dropped his mortal-coil
on 4.1.1929 AD.
His 40 years of spiritual life in Thiruvannamalai showed that Swamigal was God himself. Speaking and walking among People, he was Sanchara-Dakshinamurthi (God as man on the move). His biography vividly shows that he was a Jivan-Mukta (a realised soul while in body). He did not have body-consciousness and was in ever communion with his Atman (Soul). He saw atman in everything-animate and inanimate. He was seen going round and round a stone pillar and doing pranams (offering his worship) and saying that he was seeing God in it.
Similarly he used to worship animals-buffalo, donkeys-seeing
God in them. Sometimes he would embrace people on the road including ladies and
say that he saw para-Sakthi (mother aspect of Brahmam) in them. He
did not have any fixed abode. He was always on the move. He will be seen at
many places within a few minutes. He will be in rags and dirty clothes. He will
enter any shop on the roads and pull out anything from them. The shopkeepers
revered him and considered his visit and touch as a great blessing. If anyone
gives him a new cloth, he will wear it for a while and give it to someone.
Sometimes he will be seen going half-shaven.
He appeared without a bath and his hairs matted and hung
pell-mell round his neck. There was always a heavenly-smile in his face. Eyes
always remained half-closed and turned inward in eternal contemplation. When
opened they looked beautiful and slightly orange-tinged like a full moon. If at
all he sat, he was in Swastik Asana, with his ankles crossed and the rest
of his body poised over and out of contact with the ground. There was a devotee
by name Manikkam. He would beg in the streets and collect some food and offer
it to Swamigal. If Swamigal does not eat, he too would not eat. The stale food
would remain for days and Swamigal may some times take it not minding its foul
smell. So was his detachment from the body and things of the world. All were
alike to him; none is a known one or unknown one. He was a saint of advanced
spirituality.
He possessed supernal powers and Godly possession. There
was total abdication. Sthitha-pragna state spoken in chapter II of
Bhagavad-Gita and Mano-Nasam (control of mind) mentioned in various
scriptures including Bruhadarinya Upanishad are the "states" the
Swamigal attained. He did not get entangled in siddies (Spiritual
powers) attained by him. Sri Swamigal was one of the greatest saints of our
land and whose holiness has few parallels. One Vitoba Swamigal was at
Polur, 10 miles away from Thiruvannamalai. When he passed away, Sri Seshadri
Swamigal was running in the streets of Thiruvannamalai shouting that Vitoba was
ascending to Heaven. His power of clairvoyance was astonishing. The news from
Polur reached Thiruvannamalai much later.
When Sri Ramana Maharishi was in his younger
days doing meditation in Pathala Linga cave of Arunachala Temple, it
was Sri Seshadri Swamigal who gave him protection from urchins and brought
him to the notice of the world. Ramana, younger in age used to be
called Chinna-Seshadri (Little Seshadri). Sri Seshadri was
called Mother Parvathi and Sri Ramana as Skanda (Lord
Subramanya). There were instances when devotees have experienced that Seshadri
was Ramana and Ramana was Seshadri. They were contemporaries and each knew the
greatness of the other. Sri Ramana's presence, when Sri Seshadri body was
interred and Sri Ramana's personal reading and approval of script of Seshadri
Biography showed Ramana's reverence for this great Mahan. Many were his
beneficiaries. Sri Vallimalai Swamigal, Kavyakanta Ganapathi
Muni and Bhanu Kavi are to cite a few. Even men of ordinary walk of
life had their several ills-mental and physical cured. Several had initiation
in mantras according to their eligibility.
Sri Seshadri Swami had deep devotion to God, especially
in the form of the Goddess Kamakshi, Lord Ram and Arunachala. Sri Seshadri was
a great worshipper of Shakti. In the practice of concentration he sat steeped in Samadhi,
oblivious of his body.
Death:
Sri Seshadri died on January 4, 1929. His body was not
cremated but buried, as is the custom in the case of a saint. His Holy-body was
interred in a Samadhi, witnessed by Sri Ramana Maharishi and several
devotees, at Thiruvannamalai - Tamil Nadu (South India). There is a beautiful
temple and ashram there and He is worshipped daily.
Ashram & Temple
The Seshadri Swamigal Ashram is located in Thiruvannamalai,
very close to Ramanasramam. The consecration of the Sundaravadana Perumal
temple in Vazhur, associated with Seshadri Swamigal’s birth, happened on 12
February 2012.
Seshadri Swamigal ashram is next to Sri Ramanasramam
between the second and third Lingam on the circumambulation route. Regular pujas are
performed at the Samadhi of Sri Seshadri Swamigal. There are a few platforms
for meditation in the open, in a beautiful garden, under the cool shade of
trees. One can do meditation facing the holy hill Arunachala, from this garden. A book stall in the ashram sells
photographs and books. Accommodation (with or without air-conditioning) is
available and there is a restaurant inside the ashram.
Television Series
Based on His Life DD Podhigai used to telecast a Serial
Named as "Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mahathmiyam" every Thursday at 7.02
P.M
Location
Seshadri Swamigal Ashram is located on the Girivalam
route very near to Agni Lingam and Sri Ramanashram. The Annamalai Mountain lies
to the north of this Ashram.
Seshadri Swamigal Ashram at Thiruvannamalai is located
at 12°13'24.1"N 79°03'26.8"E or 12.223362, 79.057450.
Special Festivals
·
Daily
three times Pooja.
· Monday
evening Namavali Bhajans is conducted for the goodness and welfare of the
world.
·
Special
Pooja to Guru Dakshinamoorthy in every Thursday
·
Rahukala
pooja to Mother Durga on every Friday
· Special
Abishegam, Pooja and food offering in Hastha star days, monthly (The birth and
mukti star of Mahan is Hastham),
·
Monthly
special prayer in full moon day
·
Monthly
special Aradhara to the holy mother in Maham star day.
·
Monthly
Jayanthi pooja to the holy mother in Ayilya star day.
·
Special
monthly pooja to reddish Vinayaga in sankadahara sathurthi Thithi
·
For the
removal of evil of Aginistar, period in summer season Tara Vessel Abishekam
with Rose Water and curd rice dedication to the Mahan and Holy mother’s in
every year.
· Special
Pooja to Lord Annamalai and Goddess Unnamalai when they go around the holy hill
in Thai and Karthigai months yearly
· Special
adornment pooja and prasadham in nine days of Navarathri in every year
· Six
times special pooja and special food offering in Masi Sivarathri day, yearly.
·
Cooked
Rice Abishegam in Mahan’s shrine in Iyppasi full moon day; yearly
· In each
year, Jayanthi celebrations are conducted to Mahan, Holy Mother and all other
saints merged here.
·
Process
of Mahan’s graceful statue in Aradhana day in each and every year
·
Every
year Kuthu Vilakku Pooja is performed, particularly by ladies, on the Friday
following the Mahan‘s Jayanthi festival.
·
Special
breakfast for the sadhus in Diwali and Pongal days, yearly
Contact
Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
Thiruvannamalai - 606 603, India
Phone: +91 (4175) 236 999