THE PARAMACHARYA

 Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swami of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is famous all over the world! He is reverentially called as Paramacharya. He was sought after and visited by world leaders including prime ministers and presidents of countries! Scholars, politicians came to him for advice, solace and his blessings. He was a Titan among the mendicants who had completely cut off all attachments—a “Sarvasanga parityagi! He was a walking encyclopedia who could talk on the Vedas, the Upanishads, Dharma Sastras, the epics, the Bhagavadgita, society, politics and whatnot? Like Adi Sankara, he walked along and his padayatra instilled  love, affection and reverence among innumerable villagers who thronged to see him and seek his blessings. True to his stature he sanctioned money and material according to the needs of the villagers. Under his regime, the Kanchi Kamakoti peetam became word famous! He looked simple, frail, emaciated but full of Divine energy that only a real sage of the previous ages could command! Though he looked innocent, his miracles are many and he was the embodiment of compassion not only for humanity but to animals and other creatures. Books have been written in volumes depicting his Divine love, compassion and miracles. He lived for long, for about a hundred years and the centenary celebration was conducted on a grand scale with the then President of India, Sri  R Venkatraman! Paramacharya attained siddhi soon after. I had the good Fortune of attending the Sraddhanjali function at the Kanchi Mutt where I paid glowing tribute to his greatness!
The Paramacharya's star is ‘Anusham' and all his devotees and followers celebrate the day every year and some times every month also out of their love, reverence for the great saint. I had the good Fortune of attending one such function at the Ashtalakshmi Temple in San Mateo, California where I too offered my humble tribute to him through a composition of mine. I give below the Sanskrit slokas in which I described the glorious attributes of the illustrious sage who is unparalleled in the lineage of the present chiefs of  Mutts!
1 Sadananda bhasam sada santa seelam
Mahayogi varyam japalola netram
Maha Rajni bhrutyam Mahesanuraktham
Bhaje Chandramoulisa bhakthamm ajasram!

2 Dayaa  sindhu rajnana moha prabhedam
Munim Sarva vandyam mudollasa vakthram
Sada bhaktha paalam yaso vaibhavam twam
Bhaje Chandramoulisa bhakthamm ajasram!

3 Mahapapa naasam bhavambhodhi potam
SuKaanchi matadhisa Sarva prasastham
Gurum sarva garva pralobhadi hantam
Bhaje Chandramoulisa bhakthamm ajasram!
4 Padaambhoja kaanti prabha puta lokam
Yatindraadi vandyam Girisaavataaram
Mano vaagateetham su soulabhya devam
Bhaje Chandramoulisa bhakthamm ajasram!

5 Mahaa Vaakya Vedanta sutra prabhodam
Sada chidvilaasam sada Dharma bhaddham
Budha preeta chittham Aparnaanu raktham
Bhaje Chandramoulisa bhakthamm ajasram!





 6 Kaamaakshi vara sevakam yativaram
             Yoga prabha baasuram
Naanaasaasthra visaradam bhavabhaya
             Pradhwamsanam nirmalam
Vedodhaarana tathparam Para Sivam
              Sarvaartha siddhipradam
Sri Macchankara jnanadesika vibhum
               Paadaaravindam bhaje!

Iti Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Shatkam sampoornam.

             








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SRI ABHIRAMI PANCHARATNAM

SRI ABHIRAMI  PANCHARATNAM, is a composition in five stanzas in Sanskrit describing the glorious attributes of the Goddess at Tirukkadaiyur, a place in the south of Tamilnadu. This was composed by KRSHNA MURTHY YAYAVARAM during his visit to Tirukkadaiyur a few years back. The stotra can be sung daily as parayana by devotees of the Goddess.
Srinatharchita padapadma yugalam sringara rupojwalam
Nanarupa vilasinim Bhavanutam nadapriyam saankarim
Nanadanava darpa nasani mahamantrartha yantratmikam
Matangi! ABHIRAMI nama viditam Sri Mataram bhavaye!

Onkara Pranaveswari girisutam iswaryadayim Sivaam
Hrinkaradbhuta mantra rupini maha sakthyathmikam Iswarim
Im Klim Sowh Mani mantra vaibhava yutaam Bhandasura dhwamsinim
Matangi! ABHIRAMI nama viditam Sri Mataram bhavaye!

Kaarunyambudhi bhakta Kalpa lathikaam soundarya varaamnidhim
Sri Rajni bhava pasa mochani sudha samrajya sampatpradam
Maaraaradhita mangalangi Girija mangalyadaayi Sivam
Maatangi! ABHIRAMI nama viditam Sri Mataram bhavaye!

Sri Kameswara vaamabhaga sudati sowbhagya sandhayani
Rakachandra manojna manjula mukhim thatanka ramyojwalaam
Kalyani ABHIRAMA Bhatta varadaam Sri Chakra sancharinim
Maatangi! ABHIRAMI nama viditam Sri Mataram bhavaye!

Sri Chintamani Divya Peeta vilasath sarvaartha siddhipradaam
Math papagni vinasa daksha nayanam Kadamba vati priyam
Gangadhiswara Divya patniramalaam Sri Kama sanjivani
Matangi! ABHIRAMI nama viditam Sri Mataram bhavaye!

Subrahmanya Iyer, alais Abhirama Bhattar was the author of Abhirami Andadi, one o the foremost  works of modern Tamil Literature. Son of Amritalinga Iyer, in the village of Tirukkadaiyur, he resided in one of the agraharams established by the Maratha ruler, Serfoji 1. The king was a great admirer of Brahmin poets and saints. This was in the early part of the 18th century. The famous temple in the village is that of Amrita Ghateswara or Kalasamhara Murthy. Subrahmanya Iyer was deeply drawn and dedicated to Lord Siva even from his childhood.
On a visit to the temple on a day, Serfoji was astonished at the strange behavior of Subrahmanya Iyer. Some called him a mad man while others described him as an ardent devotee of the Goddess ABHIRAMI at the temple. The king wanted to test his devotion. He approached Subrahmanya Iyer and wanted to know what day it was. Subrahmanya Iyer, enjoying the resplendent glory of the form of the Goddess, wrongly answered that it was a full moon day whereas it was actually a new moon day! The king went away in anger saying that his head would be cut off if  the moon does not appear in the sky by six in the evening!
Realizing his mistake, Subrahmanya Iyer supposedly lit a huge fire, erected a platform over it supported by a hundred ropes. He sat upon it and prayed to the Goddess to save him. He cut off one rope after another in succession on completion of each verse of his prayer! These hymns are the wonderful pouring out of his heart for the Grace of the Goddess called ABHIRAMI ANDADI! On completion of the 79th hymn, Goddess ABHIRAMI manifested herself before him and threw Her earring over the sky such that it shone brightly upon the horizon! The area around the temple sparkled with brilliant soft radiance! Overcome with Divine ecstasy Subrahmanya Iyer composed 21 more verses to make them a hundred. The King was amazed at the devotion and spirituality of the priest, cancelled the punishment and bestowed upon him the title ABHIRAMI BHATTAR!


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