Sri Sacchidananda Bharati I

Sri Sacchidananda Bharati was a prominent Hindu saint and religious leader of the 17th century. He was the supreme pontiff of the Hindu mutt Sringeri Sharadha Peetam from 1623 to 1663. He is credited with having protected the integrity of the Peetham and enhanced its greatness.

Early life

Sri Sacchidananda was born Narasimha in the village of Srikanteswarapuram (now known as Kunnuvarankottai or Kunnapatti) near Batlagundu in the southern part of India. This village was in Madurai District and is presently located in the Dindigul district (from 1985 onwards) of Tamil Nadu.

Pontificate

Sachchidananda Bharati was ordained pontiff of the Sringeri Sharadha Peetam in 1623. When he ascended the pontificial chair, the southern part of India was beset with civil war and turmoil. Sachchidananda Bharati soon acquired mastery over the Vedas and shastras and visited many famous shrines. Initially, he wanted to marry the daughter of his maternal uncle. But the then Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati advised him in favor of celibacy and persuaded him to become a sanyasin or Hindu monk.

Sachchidananda Bharathi-I is generally credited by his devotees with having saved Sringeri through his penance and austerities. He was also regarded as a good administrator. He was well-regarded and respected by all people of all faiths and all sections of the society.

[ R.Krishnaswamy Iyer. (1965). Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Vijayam - Part-II, Sringeri Sarada Peetadhipathi (25th Pattam), Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Swamigal Avargalin Divya Charitram - Part-II - ( Peetarohanam mudal Videha Kaivalyam varai), Srirangam: Vani vilas Press ]

Biographies

The most popular biography of Sachchidananda Bharati is by R.Krishnaswami Iyer who based his biography on Sanskrit manuscripts from the period. While studying the "Ramachandra Mahodaya Kavya" of Sri Sachchidananda Bharati swami, the twenty fifth Jagadguru as per the advice of His Holiness Abhinava Vidyateertha Swamigal, he discovered another manuscript dealing with the life of that Jagadguru and bearing the title - Sri Ramachandra Mahodaya Kavya Kartru Swarupa Prakasam. [ R.Krishnaswami Iyer. (1967, P. iii,iv,v,vi). SRI SACHCHIDANANDA BHARATHI - The 25th Pontiff at Sringeri (1623-1663), MADRAS-18:Jupiter Press Private Limited.]

Compositions, Hymns and Works

Sri Sacchidananda Bharati (I) is said to have composed "Gurustutisatakam" which details the lives of all the Acharyas of Sringeri from Adi Sankara till the 24th Pontiff Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati. He has also composed other hymns and metrical works such as "Meenakshi Satakam", "Meenakshi Ashtakam", "Rama Bhujanga", "Kovidashtakam" and "Ramachandra Mahodayakavyam".

Places Associated with Sachchidananda Bharati

The village of Kunnuvarankottai is an important place of pilgrimage associated with Swami Sachchidananda Bharati. This village is served by three rivers Vaigai, Maruda and Manjalaru (as mentioned in the biography). [ R.Krishnaswamy Iyer. (1964, P.6). Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Vijayam - Part-I, Sringeri Sarada Peetadhipathi (25th Pattam), Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Swamigal Avargalin Divya Charitram - Part-I - (Avataram mudal Peetarohanam varai), Srirangam: Vani vilas Press ] The river Vaigai takes a slightly northern course near this village. It is inferred from the article in "Amman Darisanam" (see external sources) and the author's foreword in the part-II of the biography that the 35th Pontiff Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal and the current pontiff Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal have visited this village. The author R Krishnaswamy Iyer has made an anecdotal reference (in the foreword of Part-II - see References below) of the visit, the holy dip of the 35th pontiff in the point of confluence of these rivers, His visit to old Koti Mukteeswarar temple here, performance of His daily Sri Sarada Chandramouleeswara Puja in this nearby village and His benedictory talk on the significance of this area("Sthalam") in 1965. The Jayanthi (birthday) of 25th Pontiff Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Maha Swamigal is mentioned in the biography as in the month of Sravana -Rohini star. [ R.Krishnaswamy Iyer. (1964, P.8). Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Vijayam - Part-I, Sringeri Sarada Peetadhipathi (25th Pattam), Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi Swamigal Avargalin Divya Charitram - Part-I - Avataram mudal Peetarohanam varai), Srirangam: Vani vilas Press ] The Jayanthi is celebrated in this village Kasi Visalakshi-Viswanatha temple as per the advice and benedictions of 35th pontiff (refer His talk above) every year by devotees from 1965. The article in Amman Darisanam also mentions about the Kumbhabhisekham of this temple in 2001. [ [http://www.mapmyindia.com/?cx=-1333373&cy=4156309&cz=6&addr=Kunnuvarankottai,Dindigul,Tamil%20Nadu&type=alt&q=map Topography of Kunnuvarankottai] ] This is a photograph of the remains of the old Koti Mukteeswarar temple which is found in the biography. This temple was near the point of confluence of the three rivers before it is believed by the locals to have been damaged by natural calamities (like floods). The current village settlement and temple of Lord Visalakshi Viswanathar half-a-kilometre away is believed to have been reconstructed after the damage done by natural calamities (like floods).

See also

* Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham

References

External Sources

* "Biography of Jagadguru Sri Sachchidananda's life (1623-1663)" by R. Krishnaswami Iyer (Swami Jnanananda Bharati).
* http://www.sringeri.net/jagadgurus/later_acharyas2.php#21_acharya
* R. Venkataramani. (August 2003. P. 8,9,10,11,12,13). "Sringeri Sarada Peedathin 25th Peetadhipadhi - Mudalam Sachchidananda Bharathi", 'Amman Darisanam', Tamil Periodical
* Swami Saccidananda Bharati (I), Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri, Gurustutisatakam, Sri Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam, 1971, Library Of Congress, Washington D.C., U.S.A, LC Call No.: MLCS 93/1716 (B)
* http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~vs28/S.Vidyaraman/Sringeri/index.htm
* Sri Sankara krupa, Tamil Periodical, Tiruchirapalli, 1962.