Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodhendra Saraswati Swamigal

Bhagavan Nama Bodhendra Saraswathy Swamigal, Bodhendral in short, was a pioneer of Nama Sankeerthanam in south. His association with Sridhara Ayyaval, another pioneer in this field, has been described in an earlier blog titled “Sri Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval”. We had also seen Ayyaval’s praise of Bodhendral as:

यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण नामभक्ति: प्रजायते I

तं नमामि यतिश्रेष्ठं बोधेन्द्रं जगतां गुरुम् II

I prostrate to the revered Yogi, Jagat Guru Bodhendra Saraswathy, thinking of  whose name itself Devotion for the Divine Name of the Lord  flows in one.

Bodhendral had been the head of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt for 48 years, before stepping down from it after anointing a successor and settling in Govindapuram and devoting himself totally to the spreading of Bhagawan Nama.

Bodhendral’s original name was Purushothaman. His father was in the service of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt and he worshipped the then head of the Mutt, 58^th Peedathipathi, Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal, Swamigal in short, as his Guru. His parents had been childless for a long time and after they prayed to the Guru for his blessings to beget a child, Purushothaman was born.  One day when Purushothaman was a little boy he was taken by his father to mutt, as he was crying to accompany his father. Swamigal struck by the radiance of the boy’s face asked him to hand over the boy to the Mutt for bringing up to which his father readily agreed. Swamigal arranged for his education.  He studied with another boy, Jnanasekaran, who had joined the Mutt as an orphan.  After study of scriptures both were sent to Sri Kirvanendra Saraswathi Swamigal for study of Advaitic works.  When they completed their studies they wanted to meet Swamigal and take his blessings.  Swamigal by that time had left for Kasi.

So they both started their journey to Kasi. On the way Jnanasekaran fell ill and passed away. This deeply affected Purushothaman whose parents had also passed away earlier.  So Purushothaman decided to end his life in Ganges after meeting the Swamigal and so proceeded along to Kasi after performing the final rites for his close companion.  Meeting Swamigal in Kasi, he told him what happened and sought his permission to end his life in Ganges.  Swamigal who had plans of anointing him as his successor suggested a way out that will not compromise with Purushothaman’s resolve.  Swamigal suggested his taking up sanyasa, which according to Sastras is akin to new birth. That way he would not be going against Sastras which condemned suicide. Purushothaman agreed to Swamiji’s suggestion and the next morning he was initiated into sanyasa on the banks of Ganges with the new name “Bhagawan Nama Bodhendra Saraswathi” and was given Mantropadesa.  Bodhendral stayed with Swamigal for some time and studied under him. 

After a time Swamigal asked him to go south and spread the greatness of the Divine name of God. Swamigal also instructed him to meet a Mahathma, Lakshmidhara Kavi, at Puri and get the book “Bhagawan Nama Kaumudi” which dealt with the greatness of Bhagawan Nama.  Swamigal also asked him to write books based on this text. Accordingly, Bodhendral went to Puri. It was about midnight when he reached Lakshmidhara Kavi’s home. Not willing to disturb them at night, Bodhendral slept in the pyol outside the house. Bodhendral woke up on hearing a Brahmin banging the door of the house at night and decided to watch the event from darkness. The Brahmin was accompanied by a Muslim lady wearing a veil. When door was opened by a person, the Brahmin started narrating his tale in tears: The lady in veil was his wife, although dressed in Islamic outfit. They left Tamil Nadu for Kasi, but she was kidnapped on the way as they were passing through Bhamani kingdom. The lady was dishonoured and disfigured by Muslim extremists, but she managed to escape from them and joined her husband as he was returning from Kasi later. She then asked her husband cryingly to have her as maid if not as a wife and take her away from that place. The husband then told her that if the Sastras allowed it he would even take her back as his wife and they were advised to seek the advice of Lakshmi Kanth, son of Lakshmidhara Kavi, on what the Dharma Sastras said.  The young man said that he was Lakshmi Kanth, son of Lakshmidhara Kavi and advised them  to take a dip in the pond adjoining the Jagannath temple chanting the “Rama” Nama thrice which would purify her and then he could take her. 

The next morning the lady entered the pond as people watched and chanted Rama Nama thrice with devotion standing in the water.  As she came out of the pond her Muslim outfit had gone as also the disfigurement and now she had the traditional Brahmin dress with kumkum in her forehead.  This miracle established the effectiveness of Rama Nama on everybody present.  Bodhendral later met Lakshmi Kanth, introduced himself and told him the reason for his meeting. Lakshmi Kanth gave the book Bhagawan Nama Kaumudi to Bodhendral saying that his father had instructed his mother before his death that she should preserve Bhagawan Nama Kaumudi and pass it on to a saint from South India who would approach her later. Bodhendral gratefully received the book and proceeded to Kanchi.

Bodhendral elaborated Bhagawan Nama Kaumudi and composed 8 books like Namamrutha Rasodayam, Nama Rasayanam, Nama Suryodayam, Nama Tharangam, Namarnavam, etc.  These were dedicated to his Guru Sri Kirvanendra Saraswathy Swamigal and to Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal.  Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal returned from Kasi to Kanchi. To complete Kasi Yatra in the traditional manner, he left for Rameswaram with Bodhendral. On the way, near Villupuram, in VadaVambalam village, Swamigal passed away.  Then Bodhendral ascended Kanchi Peetam as 59^th Peedathipathi and completed the journey to Rameswaram. A few of the miracles attributed to him are as follows.

Bodhendral was once camping in a village called Perambur in Nidamangalam, near Mannargudi.  There he was invited by a person to his house for Biksha. His son was dumb and deaf. Bodhendral would go to places only where people chanted Rama Nama. So he initiated this person with Rama Nama and also asked him to ask his wife to chant the name of Rama while cooking.  When Bodhendral came to his house for Biksha Bodhendral felt sorry for the boy as there was no way for him to say or hear Rama Nama since he was deaf and dumb.  After the Biksha when the family prostrated to Bodhendral, he was filled with tears in his eyes for the boy. Bodhendral then explained to the person that he was deeply sorry for the boy not because he was dumb or deaf but as to how he would attain God, not being able to hear or utter Bhagwan nama. The man immediately told him not to worry as he is now sure his son will definitely attain God in view of the Guru Kripa, shown by Bodendral.  As Bodendral took leave of the couple, they reverentially accompanied the Swamigal to the camp.  The boy who had been hungry all along reached out to the leaf that Bodendral had eaten from and ate from the remnants. When he tasted the ‘Uchchishta’ from Bodendral’s leaf, he began singing the Rama Nama.  When the parents saw this on coming back, they were filled with gratitude for Bodhendral, who had performed this miracle out of compassion for their son.

During his yatra Bodhendral once went to a village called Thirukokarnam for Nama pracharam. He was initiating everyone in that village with Rama Nama. A dasi (sex-worker) came to him and asked if he would initiate her also.  Bodhendral initiated her with Rama Nama without any hesitation. As he directly initiated a woman and that too a dasi, some of the villagers started speaking ill about him. Soon after Bodhendral left the village. The dasi was chanting Rama nama religiously and would chant throughout the day. Bodhendral happened to come back to that village after some time. By that time she had finished chanting crores of Rama Nama. She came to have a darshan of Bodhendral and in his presence after prostrating to him she shed her life attaining Kapala moksham, like a true Yogi.  The villagers who were speaking ill about Bodhendral now sought his forgiveness, realising their mistake.

Arcot was once hit by plague epidemic for which there was no treatment. The Nawab was also not spared by the epidemic and it so happened that Bodhendral was there in Arcot then. The people in the city went and prayed to Bodhendral for relief from this scourge of an epidemic. He asked them to get together and chant Rama Nama. They followed his advice and were cured and epidemic also left without trace. The Nawab also became his follower and gave some land to the mutt.

After leading Kanchi Peetam for 48 years, Bodendral left it to his successor Sri Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati Swamigal to lead the Peetam, and departed for Govindapuram, a village next to Tiruvidaimarudur  and from there he pursued the Nama pracharam vigorously. One evening,  Bodhendral  was sitting in the banks of river Cauvery after his regular ‘anushtanas’, watching the small kids playing. He joined them and asked them to bury him in the sand and said that he would come out of another place. Fascinated by this play, the kids wanted to do it again and again. This continued for some time. At one point, Bodhendral was covered under the sand and he did not come out of the other end. The kids panicked and called the elders nearby. The elders rushed in and decided to dig the ground in search of Bodhendral.  Just then, a voice came from inside asking them not to do so as he had gone into Jiva Samadhi there.  Respecting his wishes they left the place. Soon this location was forgotten.   Over 100 years later, Sri Maruthanallur Sadguru swamigal decided to find this Samadhi and build an Adhishtanam around it. He searched for the exact location on the river bank in Govindapuram.  He would tie his legs and crawl on the river bank so that he would  not accidentally place his feet on the Samadhi. At one place he could hear Rama Nama being chanted and he immediately deduced that it was the location where Bodhendral had attained Samadhi. He also found there the Bhagawan Nama Kaumudi that Sri Bodendral had carried with him all along.  He then built the Adhishtanam there with the help of the king of Thanjavur.

Sri Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval

Sridhara Ayyaval, also referred to as Ayyaval in short for Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval, is one of the pioneers of Nama Sankeertanam movement in the South. He is considered as one of the trinity of Dakshina Bharatha Sampradaya Naama Sankeertanam, the other two being Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi and Marudhanallur Sathguruswamy.  Nama Sankeertanam involves singing of the one’s chosen name of the Lord and is considered more efficacious as it involves no elaborate rituals or sacrificial materials and is not conditioned by place, time, caste or sex. 

Sridhara Ayyaval was born as the only son of Lingaraya who was the Diwan of Mysore.  He was initiated into the study of Vedas and sastras at an early age and became well-versed in them quickly. From his young age he was also a devotee of Lord Siva, chanting Lord’s name in his free time.  This led to his developing Vairagyam towards worldly matters and material wealth.  So when his father died and the king offered him the Diwan’s post he declined and preferred to lead a  Unchavritti way of life, wherein one goes on streets singing divine Names of the Lord and accepting whatever is offered by devotees.  So renouncing all his wealth, he moved out of Mysore and started travelling south, singing Lord’s name and giving discourse on scriptures in simple language wherever he stayed which was not for more than a day or two. Thus spreading Nama Sankeertanam, he reached Tiruchirapalli.

He stayed in Tiruchirapalli for a while leading a simple life engaged in Unchavritti and Pravachanams. Though he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva, he was not biased against other forms of the Lord, be it Vishnu, Krishna or Rama.  Some Vaishnava Brahmins not knowing this and feeling jealous of his popularity tried to set up the Vaishnava king against him.  The king to test him ordered that Lord Mathrubutheswar, whom Sridhara Ayyaval was worshipping daily in Tiruchirapalli be dressed up as Lord Krishna and taken in procession before his house. Sridhara Ayyaval, when he saw Lord Krishna spontaneously poured out twelve verses, now known as “Krishna Dwadasa Manjari”, on Lord Krishna. The jealous Brahmins who carried tales to the king now fell at his feet and apologised for their ignorance and arrogance. The king who ordered the test also felt contrite and now wanted him to settle in that city only thereafter.  Sridhara Ayyaval who could not stand the bustle of city life, left that night the city to continue his travels.

Visiting many shrines he reached Thanjavur. King Shahaji who had heard of his scholarship and devotion met him and felt blessed by his darsan and Ayyaval also loved the king for his devotion and sincerity. But in Thanjavur also he did not stay, but chose to settle in a small serene village in the kingdom by name Tiruvisainallur, which was on the banks of Cauvery and close to Tiruvidaimaruthur with its temple of Lord Mahalinga.  King Shahaji visited him often and sought his advice.  Ayyaval had such a great affection for him that he consented to serve as Diwan from that place. Soon he felt that his new responsibilities as Diwan were coming in the way of his detachment from worldly affairs. One day as he was pondering over this a messenger from the king who did not know him came and asked him “Oh Bhagavatha, Is the Diwan in?”  Ayyaval was happy to be addressed as Bhagavatha and sent a reply in writing “The Diwan is dead.  Only the Bhagavatha remains”.  A shocked king rushed to Ayyaval’s house believing he was dead and was relieved to find Ayyaval alive.  Ayyaval explained to him that he valued more the post of Bhagavatha than the post of Diwan. The king understood his desire to stay out of worldly affairs and left him with heightened respect for his devotion.

Early morning everyday he used to cross the river, go to the temple of Lord Mahalinga, have Darsan, offer prayers and return. One day there was heavy floods in the river and no boatman was willing to ferry him across the river. Ayyaval stood on the banks of the river and with tear-filled eyes, uttered a soulful prayer “Aarthi Hara Stotra” and stayed looking in the direction of the temple. Then he saw a priest of the temple coming to him.  He told Ayyaval that as he did not find him in the temple that morning he brought him the Viboothi Prasad and handed over the Prasad.  Overjoyed, Ayyaval prostrated before the priest and accepted the Prasad.  Next morning as the floods had subsided he went to the temple and again thanked that priest for bringing him the Prasad the previous day. The priest was confused and denied ever having crossed the river to meet him, much less to hand over the Prasad. Ayyaval then realized it was Lord Himself out of compassion had come to him and given the Prasad. Thrilled with joy, he sang the glory and compassion of the Lord in 100 verses in the hymn “Daya Shatakam”.

He had the Advaitic vision of oneness of all human beings and looked upon all living beings as incarnation of Lord only. Once on a Sraardha day, as he was returning from river he found an outcaste lying on the ground overcome by hunger.  He went home, brought the food prepared for Sraardha and fed him. He then took bath again, went home and had fresh food prepared for Sraardha and invited the priests for the ceremony.  The priests who were already jealous of Ayyaval took this opportunity to condemn him for giving food to an outcaste before feeding the Brahmins and refused to perform the ceremony and walked out.  His pleadings quoting scriptures that it was no sin to feed a hungry man at any time went in vain.  As he did not want to show disrespect to the priests, he asked them to suggest a Prayaschittam and they told a bath in the Holy Ganges was the only way.  He composed “Gangaashtakam” and prayed to Ganga Matha to appear in his well and save him from this predicament. The well began to swell with water and it started flooding the streets. The frightened Brahmins now cured of their vanity and arrogance rushed to Ayyaval prostrated before him and asked for forgiveness.  They also prayed that the Ganges may be confined to his well and they be saved from floods. So Ayyaval prayed to Ganga Matha: “To fulfill Bhagiratha’s wish You came to earth.  Now for assuaging these Brahmins’ fears kindly stay in my well only”.

The Holy River receded to his well. This incident happened in the month of Karthick on New Moon day. Even now pilgrims gather in Tiruvisainallur on this auspicious day to take bath in this well water and 'Gangaavatarana-mahotsavam' is celebrated by  Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt every year this time. Sadasiva Brahmendra, who was a contemporary of Ayyaval is supposed to have based his song “Tunga Tarange Gange” on this incident. Several songs composed on him and sung in Sampradhaya Nama Sankeertanam are followed by the namavali “Gangadhara Gangadhara” referring to Ayyaval as the bringer of Ganges.

Another eminent contemporary of Ayyaval was Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi, another doyen of Nama Sankeertanam, who had settled in Govindapuram after relinquishing the headship of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Though Ayyaval and Bodhendral (in short for Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi) had their hearts set in the names of Lord Siva and Lord Rama respectively, this did not stand in the way of their affection and respect for each other.  Ayyaval had referred to Bodhendral thus: "Yasya Smarana Matrena Nama Bhakthi Prajayathe; Tam Namami Yathi Sreshtam Bodhendram Jagatham Gurum".(Remembering whom itself Nama Bhakthi wells up in the heart, that eminent Yogi, Jagat guru Bodhendra I salute”). And Bodhendral had composed a song for his disciples to worship Sri Ayyaval, whom he considered as incarnation of Lord Siva, which ended as "Tam Vande Nara Roopam Andakaripum Sri Venkatesam Gurum" (Obeisance to Sri Venkatasa Guru, who is Shiva Incarnate).   Bodhendral has also quoted as a reference, Ayyaval’s work “Nama Bhushanam” in his works “Nama Rasayanam” and “Namamrutha Rasodayam”. 

Bodhendral also shifted his residence from Govindapuram to Tiruvidaimaruthur to be closer to Ayyaval. Ayyaval and Bodhendral met very often, and spent time in discussion of various spiritual matters, often joined by Sadashiva Brahmendra, the Advaita Avadhutha.  Sri Ayyaval composed a work called 'Aakya Shashti', which described the greatness of “Shiva Nama” beautifully in sixty verses. When Bodhendral read this he told Ayyaval that he should have called it as “Shivaakyashashti” as it glorified only the names of Lord Siva. Ayyaval could guess Bodhendral’s mind, and so immediately replied, how could he dare to sing the glory and beauty of “Rama Nama” that Lord Siva, whose glory he had sung in these sixty verses, Himself chanted incessantly.  Hearing this, the Bodhendral shed tears of joy.

Ayyaval led a simple life and as in life-style, in devotion also he valued sincerity and avoided mere pomp and show.  So when once Janmashtami festival was celebrated with much fanfare he did not attend the celebrations. That night when Lord Krishna’s picture was taken in procession in a chariot, it did not stop at his house, though he waited with the offerings.  Rather the organisers accompanying the chariot remarked without accepting the offerings that Ayyaval lacked true devotion to Lord Krishna and so the offering was unacceptable.  Ayyaval only said that Lord knew who His real devotee was and went inside the house. The procession continued. At the next house where it stopped, the organisers were shocked to see that the portrait of Krishna was missing, and only the empty frame stood in the chariot. They realised their folly and rushed to Ayyaval's house. There, they found the missing Lord in a swing inside the house. Ayyaval was performing Dolotsavam, with the bhava of a mother cradling her little child. In the same bhava, he composed the work “Dolanavaratnamaalika”. The organisers realised their mistake and begged his forgiveness.

Ayyaval lived up to a ripe old age of 85. He along with Bodhendral firmly established the tradition of Nama Sankeertanam in the south. As per his followers, Ayyaval cast his mortal frame and merged with Lord Mahalinga in the temple at Tiruvidaimaruthur.  In his last prayer before shedding the mortal coil he prayed "Oh Lord! In this big stage of worldly life, I have donned various roles, and have been dancing before you for long. Oh Omniscient Compassionate Lord! I am tired now, and may your words, saying 'Enough', be my rest."

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