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.