Saturday, June 5, 2021

Vasudeva Perumal Temple, Bhagavathapuram – History

Vasudeva Perumal Temple, Bhagavathapuram – History

The trinities of Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyavargal and Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal publicized that Nama Sankirthana is the simplest form of worship of Lord,  attain salvation in this Kaliyuga.  Sri Sadguru Swamigal / Venkataraman was born to a Telugu Brahmin family in Thiruvisainallur in the year 1777 AD.  His father had great interests and profound knowledge in sacred scriptures and Veda Sastra. Venkataraman learned Veda Sastras under the guidance of his father.

He also had the opportunity to learn the sacred scriptures and life of holy men and saints, especially the great epic Srimad Ramayana.  He cultivated the habit of chanting Rama Nama, immersed in the nectar like Rama Kavya, treated himself as Lord Rama. Venkataraman followed the path of his father. He had chosen performance of Vedic rituals and Shraddha as livelihood.  Once, he had to perform a Shraddha ritual in a house nearby village. He started chanting Rama Nama in the early morning hours and it took him long hours to complete in the evening. 

Instantly he remembered the Shraddha ceremony he was agreed to perform. He was alarmed, hurried to the house in order to beg for forgiveness. Surprisingly, the man in that house greeted him with utmost reverence and thanked him for his dedicated performance of the shraddha rituals. Venkataraman realized the compassion of Lord and was in a state of ecstasy. Venkataraman was married to a pious woman Janaki. 

After the demise of his father, Venkataraman took the responsibility of taking care of the family; he visited nearby villages to teach the children Veda, his disciples were brilliant, and it helped him to earn more and more students.  Shortly, Venkataraman found it difficult to allocate time for Rama Nama Japam, so he discarded the family life and left to Ayodhya. He immersed in chanting Rama Nama Japam and engaged in Uncchavruthi, eventually he reached Andhra Pradesh. 

There he found mass of people travelling to Thirupathi singing Rama Nama and dancing to the tunes in a state of bliss. The very moment he had decided to bring awareness and Bakthi cult among the people of Tamil Nadu, he decided to incorporate the compositions / Sampradaya of great saints and holy men of North and the compositions / Keerthana of saints of South. On that night Sri Bodhendra Swamigal appeared in his dream, advised him that he has realized the purpose of his life and he need not go back to Ayodhya. 

Further, Bodhendra Swamigal instructed him to return to Thiruvisanallur to spread Nama Bakthi. Venkataraman sincerely followed the instructions of his Acharya and returned to Marudhanallur. He constructed a spectacular form of Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya, incorporating the stunning compositions of Sri Jayadevar’s Ashtapadi, compositions of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval, Bhadrachala Ramadasar, Thyagaraja, Purandaradasar, Tukaram etc. A mutt was established in Marudhanallur and Dakshina Bhajana Sampradaya was taught to the people at large. 

Gradually he came to be called as Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal. Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal visited to Govindapuram to worship the Samadhi Sthal of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal. He was unable to locate the Samadhi Sthal, he was disconsolate remained fast for nine days, without moving a bit immersed in chanting the Rama Nama. On the tenth day, he regained conscious and hurried to the banks of river Cauvery. There he kept his ears on the ground as if listening to something, he continued the search and eventually he heard the loud majestic voice of his Acharya’s Rama Nama Japam.  

Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal approached the ruler of Thanjavur (Sarfoji) and magnificent Samadhi Sthal was constructed in its place. On the previous night the King had a dream in that Lord Anjaneya informed that Lord Rama was on his way to meet him. King Sarfoji fallen at the feet of Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal and attained blessings. On his request King Sarfoji, diverted the river and developed Sri. Bodhendra Swamigal’s Jeeva Samathi. Further Sarfoji insisted to Sadguru Swamigal that he wanted to gift a village for him and his followers to practice Bhajan Sampradaya.

The ruler had high respect for Marudanallur Sadguru Swamigal who was responsible for codifying the Bhajan Sampradaya for the prosperity. In deference to the wishes of the Swamigal the king issued a charter in the favour of Bhagavathas, bestowing them on the residential rights in the village. Hence, the village came to be called as Bhagavathapuram. Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal performed many mysterious events those were truly mesmerizing. 

Once, a person Balakalochan was sarcastic at Swamigal while Swamigal was attending Uncchavruthi.  Soon Balakalochan was afflicted with severe stomach ache, his wife begged for forgiveness to Swamigal. The compassionate Swamigal gave the holy water from his vessel.  After consuming the holy water Balalochan got rid of the stomach ache and became the disciple of Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal.  Balakalochan composed marvelous verses’ praising his Acharya ‘Athade Parabramam’ stands as Guru Vandanam in Dakshina Bhajana Sampradaya. 

One of the disciples of the Swamigal, Gopal Bhagavathar, an ardent devotee, lived in this village doing Rama Nama Japa regularly and helped Marudhanallur Swamigal in his daily duties. He was affected with leprosy. Swamigal used to hug Gopal Bhagavathar whenever he met him. Gopal Bhagavathar tried to avoid Swamigal as he felt it was not appropriate. Due to Swamigal’s grace, his leprosy infection was reduced a lot. He had composed a number of kritis in praise of the almighty and attained Mukthi in this village on the banks of Cauvery.

It happened in Purattasi Pournami. It is said that Panchaloka idol of the devotee was cast and his Mukthi commenced every year on Purattasi Pournami. This practice got stopped in 1992. Marudhanallur Sri Swamigal devoted all his for forty years of life in spreading the Bakthi cult through the soul stirring Nama Sankirthana, attained Samadhi at the age of forty. Swamigal shaped a unique form of Bhajana Sampradaya, incorporating the compositions of various saints and holy men of different states and adding mesmerizing effects with the various musical instruments of divinity into it.  

In this way, he introduced an exceptional form of worship of Lord and created an enormous awareness amongst the public. Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal marvelously shaped the Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya for the occasions of performance of Radha Kalyanam, Sita Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam etc.  and in a short span of time it became widely celebrated among the people. Marudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal attained Samadhi at Thiruvavaduthurai Jagathrakshaka Perumal Temple in the year 1817, on the previous day of Rama Navami. He led his life as a Parama Bhagavatha. He made Rama Nama mantropadesam to Sri. Thyagaraja Swamigal of Thiruvaiyaru.