Skandhashramam

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Parameshti Guru H.H.Sadasiva Bhremendra Saraswathi [Sri Sri Judge Swamigal] of Pudukkottai	Guru Sri Sri Swami Santhananda	Parama Guru H.H.Sri Swayamprakasha Bhremendra Saraswathi of Chenthamangalam

Life of Swami Santhananda

Search for the Guru

Brahmachari Subrahmanyam began his wanderings. He visited many places - Agastya hills, Courtalam, Tiruchendur, Tirupati, Tirunelveli, Palani, to name a few-- and did penance there. Sometimes he was mistaken for a child lifter and beaten or handed over to the police. As he kept the vow of silence, he was kept in custody for some days before he was found innocent and released.

Subrahmanyam travelled everywhere on foot and survived on alms. He did penance at many sacred places. Then he commenced his pilgrimage to North India. He visited Badrinath, Kedarnath, Nepal and Rishikesh. He stayed for some time in Rishikesh and served Swami Sivananda.

Here was an ideal disciple whom many preceptors longed to adopt. But Subrahmanyam was searching for some other type of Guru. He searched everywhere - in forests and mountains, on river banks and in temples. Once in the Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli, when he went on dashing his head against the floor, as a part of his penance, he had the vision of an Avadhuta commanding him to follow. As soon as he got up, the vision disappeared. But he often heard the echo of the command. He was searching for only that particular Avadhuta so as to become his disciple.

On the Girnar Hill, Gujarat, there is a holy place known as Sri Datta Paduka Peetham. It is a favourite haunt of ascetics. Tradition is that only after initiation, Avadhutas used to visit there. Subrahmanyam reached there even before his initiation. It is an arduous task to climb the hill and reach its top. The place was surrounded by dense forests and was the habitat of wild animals. One had to climb hundreds of steps to reach the top. Subrahmanyam was indisposed and weak.

An unknown Sadhu appeared and said. " Why do you hesitate? Datta Guru is always with you. You swallow this pill and ascend the hill". He vanished. Who was he, whence he came, and why? Nobody knew. Subrahmanyam swallowed the pill. He felt rejuvenated and light. His mind became alert and his body strong. He climbed the hill and had the Darshan of Datta Paduka. He heard a voice commanding him to go to Chendhamangalam (Salem district) where a Guru was waiting.

One day he reached Chendhamangalam and had the Darshan of Swami Swayamprakasaji. At once he realized that the Avadhuta he saw in a vision at Tirunelveli was none other than Swamiji and requested that he be accepted as a disciple.

Swamiji gave his consent. He admitted Subrahmanyam to the Avadhuta order and gave him a new name Santhananda. Avadhutas were not expected to wear clothes. But the ignorant people do not understand the significance of nirvana. Therefore an exception was made in the case of Santhanandaji and he was permitted to wear an ochre robe.

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