SRI SADASIVENDRA SARASWATHI

Sadasiva, the son of a brahmin couple was born in a village near Karur in Tamilnadu. He was a precocious child and after Upanayanam he was sent to a guru at Tiruvisainallur on the bank of river Kaveri. His schoolmate was one Venkateswara Panditha who became famous as “Ayyaval” in the south. With a very sharp mind, Sadasiva flowered into a great debater of whom even his teacher was afraid! After completing his studies, the Guru asked him to go home. Soon news from his home arrived that Sadasiva’s wife has matured! It was happy news for the Guru and his wife and they blessed Sadasiva and sent him home. His parents were extremely happy for the arrival of their son, and gave him an oil bath. As a few special dishes had to be prepared there was some delay in preparing food. Sadasiva did not appreciate the delay! He felt samsara is full of  delays and difficulties like this. Suddenly Vairagya-- non attachment developed in him and leaving home, parents, and wife, Sadasiva left without the knowledge of anyone! From that day he was cut off from all material bonds and treated all equally! He never ate anything except what a few sympathizers offered him! A turning point came in his life at this stage!

He met a great yogi, Parasivendra Saraswathi, from whom he learnt the practice of Yoga. He took to it like duck to water! His original debating skill did not leave him. He used to vanquish any one that came to his Guru by his arguments. They complained to the Guru and on a day the preceptor questioned Sadasiva as to when he would become calm and peaceful. Sadasiva apologized  to his Guru and took a vow that he would never talk again! Completing his practice of yoga, Sadasiva left on a travel all over the country. He would eat if anything was offered and fast otherwise. He would write on the sand to express his opinion! Once, on the bank of Kaveri, while in samadhi, he was washed away by the flooding waters! Three months later, when the villagers tried to build a check dam and started digging, they were astounded to see blood on the spade! They found Sadasiva yogi in deep samadhi!! To their astonishment, he left the place without uttering a word! On an occasion he was mistaken for a thief by a few workers who were guarding the farm produce! When they tried to attack him with sticks, to their horror, their hands were paralyzed! But as soon as Sadasiva Yogi left the place, the paralyzed hands became normal!

Sadasiva’s life is full of miracles! On one occasion, a few workers in the forest had to carry firewood into the town. They were short of a person and chanced to see Sadasiva Yogi moving about in the forest. They put a bundle of firewood on his head and forced him to carry it to the destination. They threw the bundles down on reaching their place. Sadasiva Yogi too threw his bundle down. The moment he threw down the bundle, it caught fire and burnt away all the other firewood bundles in a trice!!The workers were amazed at this miracle and could not believe their own eyes! Sadasiva was a Siddha Purusha! He was a master of the eight Siddhis like 'Anima, Mahima, Garima and others.! A few children approached him with a wish to see the festival of Lord Sundareswara at Madurai! To satisfy their desire, he asked them to climb onto his shoulders and close their eyes. When they opened their eyes, they were in the presence of the Lord on his Nandi vahana in all his glory! The children were pleasantly shocked at this miracle and praised Sadasiva Yogi!

It so happened that Sadasiva Yogi went with his tattered clothes into a garden where a Muslim  stayed with his wife and others! Seeing the Yogi in semi naked condition, he was alarmed and threw a knife at him. The knife injured the Yogi on his shoulder! But he continued walk as if nothing had happened! Sensing that he should be a very holy person, the Muslim followed him to apologize for his evil action. Turning to him, the Yogi  said that it was nothing and touched his left shoulder with his right hand! Lo! Behold! The injured and profusely bleeding shoulder suddenly  healed itself and became normal!! On another occasion, a foolish celibate desired to become a scholar by merely chanting a few mantras! He took shelter under the Yogi who took pity of his struggle. With his spiritual and supernatural power, Sadasiva Yogi  transformed him into a very great scholar within a couple of days! Later the man became very famous and wrote many commentaries on various Puranas!

Many a time, SadasivaYogi had exhibited his extraordinary powers by appearing in holy places like Varanasi, and Gaya every morning! Once, while moving about a forest in Trivandrum, two kings, Thondaman and Vijaya Raghunath saw him and wondered at the Divine radiance emanating from him. They requested him to show them the way for salvation! As he had taken a vow not to speak, Sadasiva Yogi  wrote the mantra on the sand and blessed them! That Sand is kept in  the ashram of Pudukkottai and worshipped today!! The Yogi authored a number of ‘granthas’ and spread knowledge before he left the world! On the eve of  Guru purnima let us remember great Gurus like Sankara,Ramanuja, Madhwa and yogis like Sri Sadasivendra Saraswati who trod upon the earth to edify the mortals and show them the way for salvation! They were all embodiments of love, affection,selflessness sacrifice and spiritual and Divine radiance! Our humble salutations at their lotus feet!!