By Shankara Mutt was established by renowned Adhi Shankara to propagate the Advaita philosophy and to stream line the Hindu system of custom and practices. He established four mutts in Bharat, one in Kanchi, and others in Sringeri, Dwaraka and Puri. Kanchi matathipathi Sri Jayandra Saraswathi Shankaracharya attained Mukthi today (2/28/2018) morning at 9 AM. Thousands of people are paying homage to him.their beloved Acharya.
I would like to recollect few incidents that happened during my meeting with him that turned on the lights for me about his personality. I guess it was in year 1961 when I was about 11 years I met both Maha Periyava and Sri Jayandra Saraswathi swamihal while they were campaign in Mylapur. On a particular day Sri Jayandra Saraswathi was going from Mylapur to Adayar IIT. There were about 10 people with him and I was kid going with them also in a short trouser…Simply running along with them.
Half way through the journey.all of a sudden Sri Jayandra Swamihal turned back and started walking back. I as a kid remember asking the people there “why he started walking back?” One older man responded to me after bugging few times that Maha Periyava Sri Chandra Sekara Swamigal is there and he wanted Jayandra Saraswathi to come back. My question then was how did he know, Maha Periyava is calling him and now I can understand the concept of Intuition and Telepathy etc.
Later on we were going to Anatha Pathmanaba Swamy temple and while going in a peculiar incident, his dhothi fall down. Of course he had under garments and he saw the people around and said.. “i’m not embraced and why are you?” he asked and said keep the focus on God and nothing else happening around matters and he was cool and picked and worn the dhoti and moved on. Atthat young age. It created an impression of him as a very cool person.
Later on after many years 1996, I was working in Political and Entertainment weekly Tamil Express. At that time I approached the editor that I want to do a story with a Saint by studying their habits and work of the whole day. As the editor approved, I approached Sanakara Mutt and got their permission too.
During the Chathra Month, when Sanyasis don’t travel, I went and met him in Yenathur. That’s where the Kanchi Maha peet university is there and he was there and I stayed the whole day from the time he raised to went to bed (Of course they don’t use Bed to sleep). On that day I saw many people coming and getting blessed by Sri Jayandra Saraswathi. In the mean time one person was playing violin and Jayandra Swamihal was enjoying it. In curiosity I asked..if he knows violin and does he enjoy the music. I can still remember his answer as he said “ Those are all secondary question and my attention and happiness will make this person happy and that’s more important for me.” His saying was very simple.. More than my knowledge and liking it is important for me to see the other person happy. That became a great learning opportunity for me.
Latter on I wanted a photograph of him and thought the ideal situation could be when he takes class for the juniors. The issue was at that time the photographer who came from office for this specifically didn’t turn up and the class was over. By the time the photographer came, I asked him if he can give just a pose for us. Sri Jayandra Peryava said that he is not interested in just giving just a pose and arranged a small session of class again so that we can take the needed photos. At the end, he also took assurance from me that I should not get upset with the photographer for not showing up in time. That was his heart.
Specifically Jayandra Periyava’s reach in the society cut across the Cast, religion and ideological barriers. He was one of the few Sanyasis who went and reached out to the Slum dwellers and serviced them and brought them into main fold. He took Special care and time to bless and serve people in the lowest rung of the society.
As an Acharya and Sanyasi he lived without any discrimination and for that he will be remembered. He was one such sanyasi who merged the traditional wisdom with modern outlook in day to day life. He was generous in nurturing Vedic studies and also empowerment of the downtrodden.
May the Soul of Acharya Continue to bless us all.
OM SHANTI!! SHANTI!! SHANTI!!
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