English Translation of Sri Sukratindra Mahima Stuti by Sri Bhadragiri Achutdas
H.H SHRIMATH SUKRATHINDRA THIRTHA SWAMIJI
Young Sukrathindra Yati, his education incomplete, was nervous about taking on the responsibilities of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan. He prayed and praised Vyasa Raghupati to protect the fame, wealth and prestige of the Math. He also prayed to Sri Madhavendra Thirtha, - “There is no one to help me and You are my Saviour”. The next three years were difficult.
Although young He had the knowledge and learnt everything by the grace of the Lord Vedavyasa. He went to Kashi (Varanasi) and the people there were very pleased to get the darshan of their new Guru Sukrathindra Thirtha. It was their good fortune that He was young and not interested in worldly desires. The scholars of Kashi said that this Yati would certainly be a saviour to protect the Veda Dharma. He studied the Parampara. He cried as he looked at the river Ganges, remembering his Gurus, and bowed with respect.
He gave a talk to the Kashi community that his first plan was to renovate and develop religious centres such as the temple and Math. He told the audience that businessmen should earn wealth with honesty and use it for good causes. He described to them the rules for the Moola Math in Kashi and how to make arrangements for pilgrims who had to be looked after well. He told them that there would be Satsangs and havans in the Math every day. The people of Kashi heard
Swamiji and were happy. He further said that since Knowledge was the beauty of Kashi, the schools would be protected.
Swamiji left Varanasi for Bombay and went to Shri Kashi Math there. The Goud Saraswath community was very happy to know about Swami’s arrival. Righteous people of Chatrapura (Kodial, Mangalore) invited Swamiji to come to Kodial. He sent Rayas Patra through them. He travelled with his disciples by train and reached Kodial (Mangalore). The assembled people were very happy to get the darshan of the young Yati and listen to the Veda Mantras and musical instruments. The children were also very happy. Everyday there was a festival in Mangalore. One was fortunate to personally experience the worship performed by our Swamiji. He gave religious discourses, Mantra and Mudra Dharana,Prasad and organized community meals.
This was the Kali Age and people were not virtuous; they always fought and quarrelled. There was no mutual understanding between each other. Goud Saraswaths neglected their duties.Now, they were educated, imitated the West,spoke English and wore western-style clothes. English people convert many Goud Saraswaths to Christanity. Goud Saraswaths ate and enjoyed non-vegetarian food. We behaved like Westerners and our minds became polluted ( brashta ).Once, there was a lawyer Prabhu who was very proud of himself. He had relations with other communities. He complained to Swamiji that Goud Saraswaths were eating with people of the lowest caste and that those who did must be excommunicated. He got Swamiji, who trusted him, to sign a statement to that effect. Prabhu’s actual (hidden) intention was to take Swamiji to the court of law in Mangalore and have people disrespect Swamiji and the Math. The court asked Swamiji to attend the hearing in person. To protect the prestige of the Math, Swamiji and some of His disciples left Mangalore that night for Kerala without telling anyone. He worried and prayed to Lord Vedavyas to save and preserve the integrity and reputation of the Samsthan. He passed through Ullal and Kumbla. He worshipped the Lord during the day and travelled during the night. It was all God’s will. At that time, it was Guru’s wrath and His tears flowing from the eyes that flooded the river Netravati in Bantwal which became submerged in water.
They eventually reached Alleppey, Kerala. Prabhu won the case and the court fined Swamiji Rs.101. But Swamiji went to the higher court of law and after ten years won the case on appeal. The court of law said, “Prabhu must pay all the money Swamiji spent on the case”. However, Swamiji rejected the money because He then stated, “Prabhu was also one of our disciples of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan”. The opposing party surrendered to the holy feet of Swamiji. Prabhu became sick and when he went to take darshan of Swamiji, He forgot Prabhu’s wicked actions,blessed him with love and gave him Akshata. He kept his head on Guru’s feet and prayed for forgiveness. Prabhu got his health back and he was happy thereafter.
Sukrathindra Thirtha Swamiji was determined to renovate the temples of Varanasi (Kashi), Rameshwar, Moodabidri, Kodaganur, Mulki, Kapu, Bantwal, Mangalore, Kumbla, Karkal, Munkoor and Panambur. Swamiji was very simple, yet very powerful in thought. He was quiet and did not get angry with anyone. He was not jealous and befriended His enemies. He was always patient and everyone respected Him. He was the king among ascetics. He said that one must be content to serve food to a hungry man as that action was Hari pooja. Thus, during festivals He would send provisions to poor Brahmins who were very lucky to get it as Prasad from Swamiji. One young student surrendered to Swamiji and asked. “I have no time to do Sandhya Vandhana three times a day. Is it wrong if I do all three Sandhya Vandhanas at one time”? Swami said “Child, if you eat three dinners at one time you will not be able to digest it, so you must do it three times a day”.
Sukrathindra Swamiji practiced Astanga Yoga (eight types of dicipline of Patanjali). They are
1. Yama : to abstain from killing, untruths, theft and passion of property. Practice of celibacy.
2. Niyama : to observe purity and practice of Tapasya, the study and knowledge of scriptures with surrender to the Supreme Lord.
3. Asanas : to be practiced regularly to steady the mind for concentration and to discipline the body
4. Pranayama : to do breathing exercises, which improve the condition of the lungs, heart and nervous system, and bring about good health.
5. Prathyahara : to look inward while shutting out all outward impressions from the mind.
6. Dharana : to concentrate on any object, which could be a light within the mind or a form or image of God used in prayer.
7. Dhyana : to meditate involving an unceasing flow of thoughts and ideas towards this object. Such meditation leads to the final state known as Samadhi.
8. Samadhi : when the subject of the meditation and the object become one. Sanyasis who ignore the Siddhis (powers) and progress further attain superconsciousness or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. When the mind is in full union with God, the individual becomes a liberated soul.
(Numbers 3 (Asana), 4 (Pranayama) and 5 (Prathyahara) are preliminary steps to Yoga. The last three steps Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi comprise Raja Yoga.)
Yatis of all Ashta Mathas of Lord Krishna temple in Udupi, the Gokarna Parthagali Mutt and the Chitrapur Math respected Sukrathindra Thirtha Swami. He walked everyday on the sea shore and breathed the air of the sea breezes. He rode horses in the afternoon. He loved to go to the great pilgrim centre Anantha Narayana Pura (Trivandrum)in Kerala.
Some elderly people once came to visit Swamiji to ask Him questions about family life. Swamiji smiled and said, “It is enough talk about the worldly life. You had sons and grandsons, so now it is the time to think of God and Spiritual knowledge”.
One elderly rich person King of Cochin, held on to Guru’s feet and asked Him kindly, “Swami, I have got lots of wealth to spend for the temple”. Swami replied, “Offer it to the community so that Lord Venkatesh will protect your family. I am a Sanyasi and I am detached from desires. All the wealth and vehicles are only for Lord Vyasa Raghupati. I am His Dasa and He is our refuge”. The King was pleased, did salutations to Swamiji and offered all his wealth to the Lord. It is also known that disciples such as one Keshav (a fruit seller), and businessmen Kamath and Manjunath became wealthy by the grace of Swami.
One day Swamiji was reflecting in His mind that He should take a Shishya who would take care of the Dharma Peeta and all the responsibilities. Swamiji told His intimate to his well wisher Subba Bhatt (a priest well versed in the Vedas) that He longed to take a Shishya. Subba Bhatt said, “There is a young good boy called Sadashiva, the likes of whom it is difficult to find”. Swami asked Bhatt to get all information about Sadashiva. Bhatt found that the boy Sadashiva (born March 31, 1926) was intelligent in Sanskrit and English; that he performed Sandhya Vandhana and Saligrama Pooja, chanted Dwadasha Nama, and looked beautiful with the Mudra and a Tilak. He studied well, preferred to be alone and went to the temple every day. Bhatt told Swamiji that first they would check the horoscope of Sadashiva. Then Bhatt met the Sadashiva’s father Sri Ramdas Shenoy in Ernakulam.
All the people in Ernakulam knew Sri Ramdas Shenoy. Bhatt told him that Sukrathindra Thirtha Swamiji wanted the horoscope of Sadashiva. Ramdas Shenoy became motionless, thinking, “He is my loving son, without mother’s love ( Sadashiva’s mother passed away when he was 4 years of age.). What can I tell the messenger of Swami? I must obey the orders of Swami as I am His disciple”. So, he gave Sadashiva’s horoscope to Bhatt. The horoscope had all the qualities of Sanyas and the wealth of renunciation. Subba Bhatt met the young boy who got frightened when he knew Subba Bhatt’s mission. Sadashiva Shenoy said to Bhatt, “I am not able to tell you anything, ask my father”. Ramdas Shenoy was confused and thought how could this young boy look after the Dharma Peeta ? Both father and son were very virtuous. Father and son agreed to his future as Shishya. Then they went to meet Sukrathindra Swami who was elated at the decision. Sukrathindra Swami said, “It is all the will of Lord Vyasa Raghupati”. Then He sent the Rayas Patra to all His disciples to come to Mulki
The people of Mulki were very happy that our Swami Sukrathindra was going to initiate a Shishya-, they felt blessed and their town was holy. They decorated the town and offered coconuts, vegetables, grain, rice and money. They tied green colour festoons and decorated the town with banana trees, areca nut bunches, sugarcanes and flowers. There were so many powerful lights one could not determine if it was day or night. Houses were filled with guests.
When the day for initiating a Shishya was fixed, Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha arrived in Mulki. They performed all the ceremonies on the bank of river Shambhavi. The sounds of Veda chanting,instrumental music, Bhajans, dance, crackers and fireworks reached the skies.
Sukrathindra Swami initiated the Shishya on May 24, 1944 with Ashtakshari Maha Mantra andcalled him SRI SUDHINDRA THIRTHA. All the people were very fortunate with the darshan of the two Swamis, Sukrathindra and Sudhindra. Then the devotees offered kanike (currency), peetamber (silk clothes) and multicolour garlands to Swamis. Scholars gave religious discourses and praised both Swamis. Then everyone had a sumptuous dinner. It is true that one who chants the name of the new Swami Sudhindra Thirtha will get everything one desires and live without fear or worry.
Both Swamis Sukrathindra and Sudhindra highly treasured the images (idols) of Ugra (Fierce) Narasimha of Mulki, Lakshmi Narasimha of Ullal and Bhadra Narasimha of Manjeshwar. Both Swamis did the Kumbhabhisheka to Bhadra Narasimha in Manjeshwar and stayed there further for Chathurmasa.
Swami Sukrathindra inaugurated the gold Dwaja Stambba (golden flag post) in Tharavoora (Kerala). Both Sukrathindra and Sudhindra Swamis travelled together for four years and renovated the Maths.
When they were in Cochin Swami Sukrathindra was not doing well. His disciples called the best doctors for treatment. However, He was not cured. Because of His illness, Sukrathindra Thirtha one day said, “Today our Shishya will worship Lord Vyasa and Rama”. That day He took the Prasad from the Shishya. Swami Sukrathindra asked Swami Sudhindra to recite the Upanishads. Swami Sukrathindra heard the recitation with the single-pointed concentration and chanted the name of Lord Narayana. Guru Swami was notdestined to live longer and Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha attained Mukti in Cochin, on Sunday July 10, 1949.
He left all the responsibilities of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan to the young Swami Sri Sudhindra Thirtha.
Multitudes of people from various cities arrived by the thousands in Cochin to take the last darshan of Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha. They
constructed the Vrindavan and an image of Lord Hanuman was installed on it. Swami Sudhindra Thirtha praised Guru and gave large donations and dakshina to many Brahmins. Devotees who remember Sukrathindra Thirtha’s holy feet will not suffer in the cycle of birth and death and they will be liberated.
Here ends the sixth chapter of GuruCharitamrutha : Sri Kashi Math Parampara
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
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