
Introduction
SadasivaBrahmendra was a saint, a composer of Carnatic music and an Advaita philosopher. He is a contemporary of 18th centurywho lived near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. He composed his music mainly in Sanskrit. Only a few of his compositions have survived and are nowrecognized as great compositions of Carnatic Music.SadashivendraSaraswati was a born Siddha and Sanyasi of a great reputation.
Where he was born: He was at Thiruvisanallur, a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
Popularly Known: He was popularly known as Sadasiva Brahman. Sadasivahimself was a Telugu Brahmin by birth.
Parents: SadashivaBrahmendra father’s name wasSomnatha Yogi and mother’s name wasSantha. His real name was Sivarama Krishna. He was a very brilliant student and became well versed in Sanskrit at a very young age.
Education: He gained profound knowledge in Prasthanacharya and in the six schools of philosophy. He studied Vedanta under RamabhadraShastri in Thiruvisanallur.
Marriage
Sadasiva was married when he was a student. Once news reached Sadasiva’s mother that her son’s wife had attained puberty. So she started cooking some extra rice preparation for the day. Sadasiva returned from his teacher’s house. He had to wait for two hours for his meals. He thought within himself, “The life of a householder is very miserable indeed, I have not yet started my married life and yet I have to fast for two hours today. This is the beginning of miseries of my married life. This gives me a rough idea of the future miseries I will have to undergo in married life. Enough is enough.” He then determined not to enter GrihasthaAshrama and left the house in search of a Guru.
Guru
Sadasiva’sGuru was ParamsivendraSaraswati. Sadashiva practiced Yoga under his guidance. He entered into heated debates with the people. Some people made a report of this to his Guru. ParamasivendraSaraswati said, “0 Sadasiva, when will you shut up your mouth.” – Immediately Sadasiva took a vow of lifelong silence and wandered about as a mendicant or Paranhams for some time. Later on, Sadasiva lived on the banks of the Amaravathi and Cauvery in Coimbatore district. He spent much of his time in meditation.
Great Scholar–Writer
Sadasiva has written many books in Sanskrit. Of these Brahma Sutra Vrith is the most important. Dipikas for twelve Upanishads, AdvaitaRasmanjari, ZatmaVidyaVilasa, SiddhantaKalpavalli, SutaSamhitasarand, Yoga Sutra Vrith etc. are his other major works.
Poem: AtmaVidyaVilusa is a small poem written by him consisting sixty two lessons.
Description: In this book there is a description of the greatness of the Yogi who has attained self-realization. The book is very charming and absorbing. Sadasiva’s writings inspire the readers and elevate them to lofty heights of divine splendor and glory. Sadasiva was a great Siddha, a perfect sage and a complete Yogi. A rare combination and a rarer spiritual crest jewel. He was an inherent Avadhutawho was beyond egoic consciousness and caste differences. He used to take food from the hands of anyone. He had an egalitarian view about society. He roamed about wherever he liked. He was absolutely fearless, above desires and never cared for worldly riches. He was atorch bearer of wisdom and a magnificent beacon light for the aspirants.
Songs
Sadasiva-Brahmendra’s songs are so delightfully loaded with his divine experiences that they are even now constantly rendered by musicians in concerts and public spiritual gatherings. It is strongly believed thatSadasiva’s songs when recited during such accords elevatean unusual spiritual mood which is enjoyed even by those who do not understand the language, Sanskrit, in which they are mainly composed.
His songs
· Manasasamcarare, brahmanimanasacsamcara re…
Meaning: (Hey mind, dwell on brahman …)
· Sarvam brahma-mayam, re resarvam brahma-mayam …
Meaning: (Everything is brahman to the brim …)
· Khelati mama hrdaye Ramah …
Meaning: (Rama is sporting in my mind …)
· Piba re Rama-rasam …
Meaning: (Drink the nectar of Rama, hey …)
· Bruhimukundeti …
Meaning: (Recite mukunda, speak of Him …)
· Cintanastikila …
Meaning: (they have no worries …)
All songs are very famous and each one of them is a capsule of the bliss of brahman that Sadasiva had enough to spare for others.
Division of Songs
There are 19 short sweet songs redolent of the fragrance of the highest Upanishadicrealizationwhich have survived. They fall into six categories:
1) Praise of the Ganges
2) Praise of the two Avataras–Rama and Krishna
3) Tribute to his Guru
4) Respective states of the spiritual and the unspiritual
5) Postulation about Brahman and the world
6) Realization.
Mother Ganga
Everybody born in India will bless his birth in that country for two things–the Himalayas and the Ganges. Song number 19 is a tribute by one pure soul to the greatest purifying agency. There is a lilt in this concluding para on Ganga Maye:
Hail mother Ganga! Victory unto thee of swelling waves! Thy holy waters purify this shell of the earth fashioned by Brahma. Thou art the keen sickle that cuts asunder all the loads of men. Thou washest away the sins of all the generations of men! The three primal gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva each bow in reverence unto thee.
Rama and Krishna
The fourth group consists of his songs in praise of the two Purna or full-fledged Avatars–Rama find Krishna. They are some of the most tender and popular of his songs. They show that one can be a ParamaAdvaitin as well as a ParamaBhakta at the same time. Songs number 2, 9, 11, 16 and 18 relate to Krishna and 10, 12, and 19 to Rama. Many of these are addressed either to the mind or the tongue. Song number 2 begins with “Oh mind of mine! Wander thou in Brahman.” It then proceeds to identify Brahman with Him who sported with theGopis, who was adorned with a peacock’s feather on his head and who plays on the flute. Song number 9 is in a similar vein: “Oh mind! Think often and often of that son of Nanda, who wandered about Gokul and Brindavan; whose sport is in creating, preserving and destroying the universe; who is the parrot that resides in the heart-cages of the Paramahamsas.” Song number 11 says: “Oh mind! Worship Gopala who is the source of the three worlds; who is the essence of the Vedas, and sought by Yogins” Song 16 counsels the tongue to take and utter the sweet and holy names of Mukunda, Radharamana, Hare, Rama and the pure Hamsa. Song 18 implies a question as to whereKrishna is to be found, and answers, “He who wreath the Vanamala garland, always loves to sport in the company of those who contemplate the one Brahman in quietude. They are the great Bhaktas like Prahlada, Parasara, Jambavan, Hanuman, etc.”
Songs on Rama
Song number 10 proclaims “Rama sporteth in my heart; He is the ferryman who leadeth one safe across the ocean of Moha; He kills the Asuras of desire and hatred; He is always accompanied by His consort of Shanti or spiritual peace; His citadel of Ayodhya is my heart where He loves to sport; He conferred His divine empire on the Paramahamsas; His body is pure Satya, Jnana and Amanda–Reality, Existence and Bliss!” It is cleared this and the other songs that the Rama and Krishnamentioned in them are not the mere Avatars, but the Antaryami, the inner immortal ruler who resides in the hearts of all beings. Song number 12 is oft-sung and one of the finest: “Oh! drink thou the nectar of Rama! That juice is far removed from touch of sin; ityieldeth plentifully all kinds of fruits–the desires of men; it is poles apart from birth and death and fear and misery; it is the quintessence of all the Vedas and Sastras; it protects the entire universe created by Brahma; it sanctifies even atheistic creeds; the pure and holyParamahamsas sing its praises and glorify it; it has been quaffed in delight by Suka, Saunaka and Viswamitra.” Song number 17 addresses, “Oh mind! Think thou on Rama, lovely like the dark ram could. He is the lamp that illumines the hearts of Paramahamsas; His feet have removed the curse on Ahalya and restored her to positive purity.”
Tribute to Guru
Song number 9 is a glowing tribute to his Guru. It has become popular in the south as it is being included in the regular course ofBhajana. The DakshanamurthyStotra of Sankara declares that one discovers after realization that his self, his Guru and God are one and the same; we find the same expressed by Sadasiva. It is done in two ways–one is by putting the name of his Guru as the Mudra of authorship, instead of his own to each song. The second is by proclaiming his indebtedness to his preceptor in song number 2, “By the grace of my Satguru, I have become Brahman.” And he goes on to describe what Brahmanhood is. This forms a natural prelude and easily falls into the next division.
Miracles
1) Sadasiva used to sit on a rock in the middle of the Cauvery for meditation. On one occasion, the waters of the river swept him away when he was in deep trance. He got buried under the sand. After six months, when cart men dug the soil, their axe struck against Sadasiva’shead, drawing out blood. It was brought to the notice of the village headman. Fruit juice and gruel were rubbed over his body. Sadasiva woke up from sleep and walked away. It was since then He came to be known as SadasivaBrahmam or Brahmendral.
2) Another instance that marked the disorientation of the body with the self in the case of SadasivaBrahmendra was that when he once fell in between two bundles of straw when farmers not noticing it piled bundle after another over Him. When after nearly a year, the bundles were cleared;Brahmendra got up and moved on as if nothing had happened.
Great Yogi
Once while meditating on the sandy banks of the Cauvery, Sadasiva entered into Samadhi. Suddenly there was a flood in the river which carried him away and buried him under the sands. After the rainy season was over, a laborer dug a pit in the sand. His spade was smeared with blood. He was wonder struck. They dug a big pit, very carefully and found buried deep in the sand Sadasiva Brahman. He shook the yogi several times and brought him back awakened from deep sleep and walked away quietly as if nothing had happened.
Cruel act of king: Sadasiva had no consciousness of his body. He moved about in a rude state. Once he entered the tent of a Nawab where Zanana ladies were also present. The Nawab became very furious and cut his arms with a sword but even by this cruel act, the Yogi Sadasiva was least affected and he continued to wander as usual, as if nothing had happened. The Nawab was wonder struck.
Become Follower:He decided to follow Sadasiva. After several days, the sage realized that someone was following him. Sadasiva asked the Nawab“Why do you follow me?” The Nawab replied, “Venerable Sage – I have committed a serious crime Please forgive me”. Sadasiva said, “Well Sir, you have done nothing wrong to me. However, please let me know what crime you have committed.” The Nawab said, ” Revered saint – You entered my tent in a rude state when I was in the company of my wife and daughters. I became extremely angry and chopped off one of your arms. I did not know that you were a great saint.” Then only Sadasiva came to know that one of his arms had been cut off. Sadasiva touched the maimed arm with the other arm and no sooner he had done it, he regained another arm. What great miracle? The Nawab was wonder struck. Sadasiva blessed the Nawab.
Once children requestedSadasiva,” Swami, take us to Madurai, we wish to see the grand festival in the temple tonight.” Sadasiva made signs to the children to mount his head, back and shoulders. The children immediately found themselves in Madurai before the temple. They enjoyed the festival and were brought back before the day break. It was usual for Sadasiva to be seen by the people simultaneously at different places.
Samadhi
Sadasiva told the Brahmins of Nerur, a village near Karur that he would enter into samadhi on a particular day and that a Brahmin from Kashi would bring a Bana linga which should be installed in a temple by the side of his samadhi. The Brahmins accordingly dug a pit for the sage and waited for the particular day. To their great astonishment, a Brahmin did come from Kashi with a Bana Linga. Sadasiva descended the pit and entered into Nirvikalp Samadhi and merged himself in Para Brahma, the light of lights. The locals made necessary puja for the Samadhi and erected a temple with the Bana Lungi by the side of his Samadhi. It is a great miracle that Sadasiva entered Samadhi simultaneously at Nerur, Kashi, Onkar and Kanchipuram.
Age of Enlightenment
The nineteenth century saw India faced with great crisis. With the British conquest of India came the invasion of western civilization upon the country. India hailed everything western as thing to be welcomed. In the name of Christianity- one of the greatest religions of the world – had begun to act of the cultural conquest of India. At this psychological moment appeared DayanandSaraswati, Swami Ram Tirth, Sri Ramakrishna Parahansa, Sri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda. These great Saints instilled love for Indian culture and religion. They opened the eyes of the Indians towards the greatness, grandeur and magnificence of Indian-ness at a time when everyone was being swayed by the sweeping winds of change. India has produced great saints in no small number; their biographies often came out but what for? The Sacred lives and teachings of such great men are not mere stories for filling up the pages in newspapers, but they are spiritual appeals for keeping alive the ideals they preached. Their physical sufferings and spiritual attainments have a miraculous effect influencing the minds of men to move in the path of Dharma. Life should be like a light – like the sun that shines on all. Within man is a light, let it shine in the midst of darkness.
Reference
Saint Gurus and Mystics of India Vol 2 byDr. Giriraj Shah published by Mrs Rani Kapoor for Cosmo publications 1999
http://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/kirtanasofsadasivabrahmendrajul81.htm
www.dlshq.org/download/miracles.pdf