Sri Seshadri Swamigal, also known as the "Saint with a golden hand", was an Indian saint who was born in Kanchipuram, but predominantly lived in Thiruvannaamalai and attained Samadhi therein
Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharshi were contemporaries. Seshadri actually arrived at Arunachala six years earlier than Ramana. When Ramana Maharshi came to Tiruvannamalai seven years after Seshadri Swamigal's arrival, Seshadri took care of Ramana Maharshi. Sri Seshadri tried to protect the young swami who seemed quite unaware of his body and surroundings.He cleansed Ramana's blood-oozing wounds and revealed Ramana as a [saint] to the world.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was called Chinna Seshadri by one and all, for the same proclivity to Mouna, deep meditation and Sadhana.
As Bhagavan was driven to Paathala (underground) Lingam in Sri Arunachaleeswarar temple, it was Sri Seshadri Swamigal who protected him.In the Puranas, it is said that when Parasakthi was performing penance to Lord Shiva, it was her son Karthikeya who protected her. In the mundane world, Seshadri Swamigal, verily born of Sri Parasakthi's blessings, guarded over Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, who was considered a manifestation of Lord Kumara, reversing the roles.
Many devotees of one or the other saint have testified in numerous publications, that both have verily said that they are one and the same, on many occasions, such as in case of Lakshmi Ammal, a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Seshadri Swamigal, who met her on her way to Bhagavan, responded to her thought, assuaging her in response to her silent prayer, "What's the difference, where you serve, here(Him) or there(Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)?"
Similarly, a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who took to narcotic substances in pursuit of spirituality, much against Bhagavan's advice, sought refuge with Seshadri Swamigal, who said "Well, I told you before itself, to avoid it.".This comment, to avoid narcotic substances, was made by Bhagavan to the devotee, and yet Seshadri Swamigal could respond likewise.
Many people have been witness to conversations and lunches that both Gnanis would share. One Vasudeva Sastri states that, on one occasion, Sri Seshadri Swamigal, after intently observing Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, asked of Bhagavan, "What is THIS thinking?", later saying, "Paying Obeisance to Arunachala will result in salvation". This led to Bhagavan breaking his Mouna(silence)[47] and reply "Who is the one paying Obeisance? To who is the Obeisance being paid?". Subsequently, Bhagavan gave an eloquent one hour long exposition on Advaita to which Seshadri Swamigal said that he believes in Bhakti alone, went down, prostrated to Arunachala and left.[48]
Contrary to the above comment about faith in Bhakti, Swamigal was always in the non-dual state as evinced in an incident, wherein, while walking along the Agraharam in Tiruvannamalali, he stopped a passerby to ask him, while pointing to a tethered buffalo, as to what the passerby sees. The passerby said, he saw a buffalo, to which Swamigal correct him saying, "This is Brahman" (The Oneness of existence),[49] thereby proving that Swamigal just communicated the same principle of Advaita albeit in a slightly different manner from Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Yet another evidence that both were one and the same, was through the experience of Natesa Mudaliar, who wanted to be graced by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi but was unable to get the grace of the Guru, until he met Sri Seshadri Swamigal, who drove him away, which was taken as a good omen and turned out so, as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi finally graced him with his tutelage.[50]
Quite often, many devotees have been told that there were then three lingams in Tiruvannamalai: Sri Seshadri Swamigal, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Arunachala itself.
His presence in shops, where he would seemingly randomly throw away the cash counter, throw out the inventory, were all eagerly awaited, as it resulted in skyrocketing sales.
சேசாத்திரி சுவாமிகள் (Seshadri Swamigal) என்பவர் திருவண்ணாமலையில் வாழ்ந்த சித்தராவார்.[1][2] இவர் சமாதி அடைந்த இடம் திருவண்ணாமலை கிரிவலப்பாதையில் அமைந்துள்ளது. சேசாத்திரி சுவாமிகளை காஞ்சி காமாட்சியின் அவதாரம் என்று பக்தர்கள் கூறுகிறார்கள்.[3] இவர் தன்னுடைய 19வது வயதில் கிபி 1889ல் திருவண்ணாமலைக்கு வந்தார். அதன்பின்பு திருவண்ணாமலையிலேயே வாழ்ந்து மறைந்தார். இவர் இரமண மகரிசி பாதாள லிங்க சந்நதியில் அமர்ந்து தியானத்தில் இருந்தபோது, அவரை மீட்டார்.
ரமண மகரிசி சிறுவயதில், திருவண்ணாமலையில் அண்ணாமலையார் கோயிலில் இருந்த பாதாள லிங்க சன்னதியில் தவமிருந்தார். அவரின் ஆழ்ந்த தவம் நீண்ட நாட்களாக இருந்தமையால், அவரைச் சுற்றி பல்லி, பாம்பு போன்ற உயிரினங்கள் அண்டின. பல நாட்களாக உணவும் நீரும் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளாமல் இருந்த ரமணரை சேசாத்திரி சாமிகள் காப்பாற்றி, உலகிற்கு ரமணரை அறிமுகம் செய்தார்.
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#Ramanamaharishi
#சேஷாத்திரிசுவாமிகள்