Meetings with Sages and Saints
Gurudev Swami Sivananda and Swami Chidananda
SWAMI CHIDANANDA
Life
Sridhar Rao – that was the name given by his parents to Swami Chidananda -- was born on the 24th September, 1916. At the age of eight, Sridhar Rao's life was influenced by one Anantayya, a friend of his grandfather. Anantayya used to tell him stories from the great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Consequently, doing tapas (austerities), becoming a rishi (Sage), and having a vision of God, became the only goal of Sridhar Rao’s life.
His cheerful personality, exemplary conduct and extraordinary traits earned for him a distinct place in the hearts of all teachers and students; and also, with others whom he came into contact with. In 1936, he was admitted to Loyola College, Chennai, whose portals admit only the most brilliant students. This period at a predominantly Christian College was a significant one. The glorious and noble ideals of Lord Jesus, the Apostles and other Christian Saints, found in his heart a synthesis of all that is best and noble in the Hindu tradition. To him, study of the Bible was no mere routine -- it was the Living Words of God, as alive and as real as the sacred words of the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. His subtle inner vision enabled him to see Jesus in Krishna, not Jesus instead of Krishna. Even at that young age, service to lepers became Sridhar Rao’s ideal. He would build them huts on the vast lawns of his home and look after them as though they were deities.
Although born in a wealthy family, he shunned the pleasures of the world quite early in his life and devoted himself to seclusion and contemplation. In the matter of study, it was the spiritual books which had the most appeal to him, more than college books. The works of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Sivananda took precedence over all others. He shared his knowledge with others and would talk to them of honesty, love, purity, service and devotion to God. He would exhort them to perform japa of “Rama-Nama”. While still in his twenties, he began initiating youngsters into this great “Rama-Nama”. He was an ardent admirer of the Ramakrishna Math at Chennai and regularly participated in the satsangs there. The call of Swami Vivekananda to renounce, resounded within his pure heart. He always felt thrilled to be in the presence of Sages and Saints, who visited Chennai.
In June 1936 – at the young age of 20 years -- he disappeared from home. After a vigorous search by his parents, he was located in a secluded Ashram of a holy Sage, not far away from Tirupati. On persuasion, he returned home. The short separation was but a preparation for the final parting from all forms of attachment to family and friends. Even at home, his heart was dwelling only on the silent Inner Life of listening to the mystic sound : “OM”. Hence, the seven years that he spent at home were marked with seclusion, service, intense study of spiritual literature, self-restraint, control of the senses, simplicity in food and attire, abandonment of all comforts and practice of austerities which enormously enriched his Inner Spiritual strength.
As a youngster of nine years of age, Sridhar Rao went through the book, ‘In Quest of God’, by Swami Ramdas. It opened up a whole new vista of India he had never before known or imagined. It was in this book that he first encountered the terms ‘samadhi ’ and ‘ecstasy’. He was then consumed with an overwhelming desire to meet with Swami Ramdas, and when he was 16 years old, he got his first darshan of Swami Ramdas at ‘Anandashram’.
‘Young’ Chidananda with Gurudev Swami Sivananda
When Sridhar Rao left home and was about to take the ultimate step of final renunciation, he wrote a letter to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, praying for his blessings, and got an immediate reply of assured blessings, along with Sri Bhagavan’s Prasad of Vibhuti and KumKum.
Sridhar Rao was already in correspondence with Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. He obtained Swamiji's permission to join his Ashram. In 1943, he arrived at Sivananda Ashram; and, spontaneously took charge of its Dispensary. He became the man with the “healing hand”. His divine healing hand attracted large numbers of patients to the “Sivananda Charitable Dispensary”. His early trait of service to lepers found complete and free expression as divine love, based upon the supreme wisdom that all are one in God. Patients from the neighbourhood, who suffered from the worst kind of diseases, came to him. To Sridhar Rao, any patient was none other than Lord Krishna Himself. He would serve him with tender love and compassion.
In the service of the sick, Sridhar Rao realised he had no separate existence as an individual. Birds and animals claimed his attention, as much as human beings. His deep and abiding interest in the welfare of lepers had earned him the confidence and admiration of the Government authorities. They elected him as the Vice Chairman of the Leper Welfare Association. In addition, he delivered lectures, wrote articles for magazines and gave spiritual instructions to the visitors. When the “Yoga Vedanta Forest University”-- now known as the “Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy” -- was established in 1948, Swami Sivananda appointed him as its Vice-Chancellor. As its Professor of Raja Yoga, Sridhar Rao gave brilliant expositions on Maharishi Patanjali's “Yoga Sutras”.
It was in the first year of his stay at the Ashram that he wrote his magnum opus “Light Fountain”, the most popular biography of his Gurudev, Swami Sivananda. Gurudev once remarked, "Sivananda will pass away, but Light Fountain will live on for ever". Under the guidance of Gurudev, he founded the ‘Yoga Museum’ in 1947, in which the entire philosophy of Vedanta and all the processes of Yoga sadhanas are depicted in pictures and illustrations. Towards the end of 1948, Gurudev nominated him as the General Secretary of “The Divine Life Society ”. Thus, the heavy responsibility of the entire organization fell on his capable shoulders.
On Guru Purnima day, the 10th of July, 1949, Swami Sivananda initiated Sridhar Rao into the holy order of sannyasa, and gave him the name “Swami Chidananda”, meaning, ‘one who is in the highest Consciousness and Bliss’. On the instructions of his Gurudev, in November, 1959, Swami Chidananda embarked on an extensive tour of America to broadcast the message of Divine Life. In August 1963, after the Mahasamadhi of his Gurudev Swami Sivananda, he was elected as President of the “Divine Life Society”. Chidanandaji toured the length and breadth of India, Malaysia and South Africa to serve the devotees. It was always at the behest of devotees, staying far away from their Mother India that Swamiji undertook global tours. Wherever he went devotees received him cordially and listened to him with rapt attention.
Ma Anandamayee Ma, who loved and respected Swami Chidanandaji deeply, once visited the Sivananda Ashram at Rishikesh. Swami Madhavananda, the Vice-President and Swami Krishnananda, the General Secretary were there but not Chidanandaji, the President, who was abroad. Out of affection, Ma said, "Chidananda Baba is like that ! Madhavananda is in Bhakti-line, Krishnananda is in Jnana-line, and Chidananda Baba is on airline!”
Narrating this, Swami Chidanandaji said, "When I saw Ma next, I asked her, 'Ma, when will you liberate me from this ‘airline’?!'"
Chidanandaji’s humble prayer to Ma Anandamayee Ma : “…..Ma ! Liberate me…..”
In his later years, Swamiji started taking retreats into Inner Silence, by staying at Uttarkashi branch of Sivananda Ashram, for the sole purpose of being with himself. During those days, Swamiji was seen totally introverted and fully absorbed in inner silence. People who have had, on those occasions, the good fortune of having Swamiji’s darshan, have remarked that Swamiji glowed with an aura of pure Bliss and Peace.
Swami Chidanandaji attained Mahasamadhi on August 28, 2008.
Swami Chidananda
Quotes of Guidance from Swami Chidananda
“Wake up at dawn each day to salute the Universal Being. Bow down in adoration unto Him. Stay in a state of serenity -- filled with happiness and contentment. Change your angle of vision. Feel that the whole World is the manifestation of the Lord. Be the conqueror of your mind, the subduer of your desires and the master of your destiny.”
“Life is an inward journey of the Spirit. It is a journey that has no arriving or reaching, for, it is a journey without movement. It starts from the point where you have to arrive.”
”You should act your part in the scheme of things as dictated by the situations in which the Lord has placed you. You are where you are, and what you are, due to the Will of the Lord. Every movement, every force, every form of energy, all power, is a manifestation of the great Universal Power, the Universal Source.”
“Silence is the most real part of your ‘being’. When you are alone, you are silent. Silence is the only way in which one can express ‘That’, which is beyond all speech and thought.”
“Consciousness indwells all beings and brings about unity in the midst of diversity. Diversity is a fact. The Unity is a greater fact. Diversity may change, but the Unity does not change, and therefore it is the Truth.”
“You come from a realm of everlasting ‘Life’. In that Light of Reality, you have no birth and no death, no beginning and no end. You are that Light of lights. You are Peace and Bliss. You are complete and whole. One has to rise to this experience of Self-Awareness, which by itself will liberate you from bondage. And, this, indeed, is the great Mission in Life of every individual soul.”
“From time to time, mentally offer your life at the feet of God : ‘Oh Lord ! Whatever I do, all my acts, I offer at Thy feet’. Thus everything becomes linked up with God and all activity becomes sacred and sanctified.”
“The more cravings and desires one has, one suffers greater forms of restlessness. Therefore, simplify your life, and you will find yourself on the road to inner peace.”
‘Maharshi’ Patanjali said : “By imbibing equanimity towards one’s higher ones, loving friendship towards one’s equals, compassion and kindness towards one’s lesser ones and indifference towards evil doers, one will easily and effortlessly delve and retain one’s peace of mind.”
CHIDANANDAJI AND ME
In the 1960s, great efforts were made to get devotees to visit Sri Ramanasramam but without much success. At that time, N.S. Rao, the owner of a big firm in Chennai, arrived with his devout wife, Vatsala. I attended on them with special care. During our conversations, I came to know that Mrs. Rao’s brother was a ‘Swami’ in Sivananda Ashram at Rishikesh. That was the time when only the names of Swami Sivananda, Swami Ramdas, Swami Nityananda, Swami Purushottamananda, Swami Tapovan Maharaj and Swami Narayanananda were well-known in spiritual circles. On enquiring, Mrs.Rao told me that her brother’s name was “Swami Chidananda ”. I listened with closed eyes and strangely felt an inner thrill!
A few years later, when we successfully completed the construction of Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine, the Ashram management was advised by the traditional Vedic pundits that at least two realised souls -- Jnanis or Siddha Purushas -- should be invited. Their presence, the pundits insisted, would enrich the power of the rituals. When I was consulted, I had no hesitation in suggesting two names - Janaki Mata of Tanjore and Swami Chidananda, President of Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh. Though I had known Janaki Mata from my childhood, it was my mother who insisted that she be invited. Likewise, the then Ashram Trustee, K. Padmanabhan, fully supported my suggesting the name of Swami Chidananda. By that time, I had heard that Swami Chidananda was a Jivanmukta, from advanced sadhakas and visiting Mahatmas.
Especially, Swami Chidananda’s adoration of Sri Bhagavan gave me immense happiness :
“Bhagavan Ramana was an embodiment of Jnana. He was available to the devotees 24 hours of the day, but his silence was impenetrable. No one could transgress the border and take advantage of his availability. Even if most famous and important celebrities were to come and sit in his presence, the Maharshi would go out for his daily walk or work in the kitchen as if he was totally unaware of their presence. This divine indifference was born out of his freedom.”
“In one moment of illumination, Sri Ramana Maharshi became established in “I AM” -- ‘I am neither mind nor body, Immortal Self am I. I have neither time nor space, I was never born.’ In one split second -- one moment he was just an ordinary student and the next moment he was awakened into a State of Total Freedom, -- a Spiritual Perfection as clarified and declared in the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ : “Fire cannot burn you; water cannot wet you; weapons cannot injure you; wind cannot dry you. You are unborn, permanent, eternal, beyond time. Death is nothing to you” -- he became established once and for ever in that experience, and he never budged from that state. All his life, no matter what was going on around him, it did not touch him. It did not affect him.
“Every true devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi observes the ‘Royal Path’ of -- to think, meditate and reflect upon the Vichara Marga -- Self-enquiry of “Who Am I ?”. ”
When Swami Chidananda arrived in 1967, I took keen interest in making his stay comfortable and attending to his personal needs. He was especially kind to me. He was the most humble sannyasin I had ever come across, after the unassuming and inimitable sannyasin of ‘Anandashram’, Swami Satchidanandaji.
Swami Chidananda was full of humour. The very first night, I took him to the room – allotted to him and his attendant – I had already seen to it that his bed was fixed with a mosquito net. On seeing it, Swamiji gave a smile and told his assistant, “Remember! All objects in the world are ‘holy’ – whatever you see or touch are ‘holy’. However, one thing should never be holy because then it cannot be used! Can you tell me what it is?” The assistant and I looked at each other in puzzlement. Swamiji himself broke the silence, “A mosquito net should never be holy – it should not have holes!” We all laughed together !
Swamiji pleaded with me to narrate whatever incidents I knew about his Gurudev, Swami Sivananda’s visit to Sri Bhagavan in the 1920s. Kunju Swami and Viswanatha Swami had earlier conveyed to me about that eventful visit of Swami Sivananda and I was only too happy to recount its details: “Swami Sivananda was a gigantic figure and he would stand outside the door of the Hall in which Sri Bhagavan was seated. He would then touch the feet of any devotee who came out after prostrating to Sri Bhagavan! And, with joy, Swami Sivananda used to express that even to touch the feet of those who have had the great good fortune of prostrating to Sri Bhagavan, was by far a true spiritual blessing ! Sivananda was residing in the town of Tiruvannamalai; and, every day Swami would himself cook a North Indian meal, bring it to the Ashram by bullock cart and personally serve it to Sri Bhagavan. He would explain each dish to Sri Bhagavan. Swami’s contention was that since Sri Bhagavan would not travel to North India, Sri Bhagavan should at least taste the characteristic dishes of Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bengal, and other North Indian states. Swami also observed that in Sri Bhagavan’s presence, devotees sang devotional songs in almost all the Indian languages, but not in English. So, he would compose extempore English verses in praise of Sri Bhagavan and sing in Sri Bhagavan’s presence in his sonorous voice. Sri Bhagavan appreciated them and also accepted them in his all-consuming silence.”
“…..solemn ceremony of Kumbhabhishekam over Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine (June 18,1967)…..”
The Kumbhabhishekam celebrations took place from June 14 to 18, 1967.On the night of culmination of all rituals, Swami Chidananda was the only person permitted inside the cordon of purely Vedic priests. Swamiji insisted that I also sit by his side. The puja and arati - waving of lights - to the consecrated shrine of ‘Ramaneswara Mahalinga’, was the fitting finale. Swamiji appealed to me with intense humility and devotion, “Ganesan! Will you please do me a great favour? I want a few sacred flowers to be taken directly from Sri Bhagavan’s Shrine of Grace and given to me. I will preserve them with me, with the greatest reverence, all my life, for, I am fully aware of the sacredness of their power to protect and guide me, wherever I am.” When I handed over the flowers to Swamiji, he gave me an embrace of blessings. I remember with happiness and reverence that encounter, even today!
On his return to the Himalayas, Swami Chidananda, published the following description, in their Ashram journal, “The Divine Life”: “The solemn ceremony of Kumbhabhishekam to the new construction raised over Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine, took place on the 18th June and this sevak (‘Swami’ always referred to himself in the third person) was present there at the loving invitation of T.N.Venkataraman, President of Sri Ramanasramam. It was really a grand and an inspiring event and during the three days I was there, the blessed presence of Bhagavan Ramana was felt as a tangible inner experience - at once purifying, sanctifying and spiritually elevating. I had the unique good fortune of meeting great devotees like revered Muruganar, Arthur Osborne, Smt. Nagamma and Venkataratnam and such others – all of whom had the supreme blessedness of close contact with Sri Bhagavan during his lifetime. Also, I had the privilege of getting darshan, of bowing before the holy saint Janaki Mata – the God-intoxicated devotee of Sri Bhagavan. I was happy to meet them all and also revered Dr. T.M.P.Mahadevan and to listen to his beautiful speech in Tamil. The entire Kumbhabhishekam ceremony conducted by a select group of a large number of learned Vedapathis and Shastris, with meticulous care according to strict Vedic injunctions, was most befittingly conducted and it was a grand success. My warmest congratulations to the trustees of the Ashram for raising this worthy memorial over the divine resting place of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. His presence and power indeed radiate from this vibrant Shrine of Grace.”
Ten or more years later, when I was in the Himalayas I visited Swami Chidananda, President of Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh. He expressed immense happiness and blessed me profusely. He called out to his secretary and told him something in Hindi which I could not understand. His secretary brought a small beautiful casket in silver. With all devotion, Swamiji opened it, showed it to me and said, “These are the sacred petals of the flowers taken from Sri Bhagavan’s Sacred Shrine and you were kind enough to give them to me on that Kumbhabhishekam day at Arunachala. They bless me and protect me, most powerfully, especially during my tours abroad!”
I requested Swamiji to tell me about the greatness of his Gurudev – Swami Sivananda. He was very pleased to share with me the following: “People knew Gurudev only as a spiritually great person. Many do not know that Gurudev was an ocean of compassion full of practical understanding. In those days – the 1940s and 50s – keen spiritual aspirants, especially from South India, would often run away from home to the Himalayas in quest of spiritual attainment. Many of them would be guided to the ‘Madrasi Ashram’ – as the locals used to call Sivananda Ashram. The moment Gurudev met the aspirant, especially if he was from Tamil Nadu and very serious about his sadhana, he would talk to him in Tamil and say, “Why did you come to this kindergarten school? You belong to the University! Go! Go to Sri Ramana Maharshi at Arunachala. His presence is his guidance! His presence is his blessings! You now need only his advanced spiritual guidance! Don’t waste your precious time by aimlessly wandering in the Himalayas, thinking you are in search of Truth! Truth is seated at Arunachala in flesh and blood! Fall at his sacred feet! Rush!” Sometimes, the aspirant would have no money. Gurudev would enjoin one of us to accompany such aspirants to Delhi with instructions to buy a ticket for them on a train to Madras, mostly on the Grand Trunk Express. We would also be instructed to give the penniless traveler additional pocket money for expenses on the way! Gurudev was most practical in worldly matters as well, while extraordinarily elevated in spiritual attainment!”
What a great Guru and what a great disciple!
Decades back, almost every year, I used to visit the Himalayas, in the protective company of Anuradha. Our main interest in those persistent visits was to meet with our dear and revered friend, philosopher and guide, K.V. SUBRAHMONYAN ( “K.V.S.” ) and try to persuade him to come back to Holy Arunachala. In those days, KVS was staying at an Ashram in Haridwar or at another Ashram situated in one of those hills and finally settled at Uttarkashi. We both were truly eager that just as I brought in and looked after the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan, I should take care of this ardent Gandhian -- following Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Teaching’ -- whose health was in poor condition. He would respond to our pleas, with the following words: “Sri Bhagavan’s guidance I am waiting for. The moment He gives His signal, I would come and stay like a ‘door mat’ at His Abode of Grace”.
KVS : “…..I would stay like a ‘door mat’ at His Abode of Grace…..”
It gives me tremendous joy to report that for the past fourteen years, pious KVS is residing inside the premises of Sri Ramanasramam, giving guidance, solace and clarity to innumerable visiting pilgrims, who come to the Ashram from all over the World. KVS is a spiritual treasure, indeed !
Whenever I was with KVS in the Himalayas – especially, when he was staying at Uttar kashi – I would request him to show me around the most famous Mountain in the World and its hidden treasures of spiritual beauty and beatific splendours. With joy he would take me to spiritually surcharged sacred places, like, ‘Gangotri’ (the place of origin of Ganga Mata) ‘Vasishtha Guha’, ‘Lakshman Joola’, ‘Sivananda Ashram’, etc. On one such visits, KVS took me to Rishikesh and made me stay at Sivananda Ashram, for a couple of days. Its President, Swami Chidananda, was away abroad. We were given a room above the Ganges, with all comforts – made luxurious for the stay of the Ashram’s visiting Auditors. We were thus enjoying the Glory of Mother Ganges serenely flowing, by through the large windows of our room itself,. We felt so very blessed!
After a long time – perhaps, a gap of many years – KVS caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on the wall; and, literally felt startled! With innocence, he asked me, “ Oh ! Is it how I look !” I replied, “Yes, dear KVS ! You look marvellously beautiful, charmingly attractive and captivatingly mesmerizing !”
Seated on the window sills and viewing Ganga Mata, KVS began sharing his association with and admiration for Swami Chidanandaji. Whatever KVS had shared, I make an honest attempt to recapitulate and present, hereunder :
“Swami Chidanandaji came to Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh around 1943 as a young man of 27 years old. He belonged to a wealthy family which lived in a palatial bungalow in Madras with a piano in it, on which his mother used to play. In addition to his native tongue – Kannada -- he spoke Marathi, Tamil, English, Hindi, Konkani and Tulu.
“It is said that even as Sridhar Rao was first seen coming to see him, Swami Sivananda spontaneously said in Tamil : 'Namma Aalu Varaar' (‘My own man is coming’). Swami Sivananda was known to be a great mind-reader. Soon after, one day, when he was with some visitors, Swami Sivananda pointed to Sridhar Rao bathing in the Ganga and said 'He will be my successor.'
“Every year, before Maha Sivaratri -- the occasion when earnest aspirants were being initiated into sannyasa -- Swami Sivananda would ask Sridhar Rao if he would be initiated into sannyasa and Sridhar Rao would say 'Gurudev! I am not yet ready.' However, after six years, when Sridhar Rao gave the same answer, Swamiji said 'If you are not ready, who else is ready? Come on.' Sridhar Rao became “Swami Chidananda” and never looked back.
“Swami Ramdas of Anandashram, Kanhangad once said, 'You will know a Saint when you live with him.' It was true in the case of Swami Chidananda. It is said that only a Jnani can recognise a Jnani. But when one was with Swami Chidananda, it was like being with Sant Jnaneswar, Sant Eknath or Sant Tukaram. He radiated a saintly aura, all the time.
“Swamiji was a great Karma Yogi soaked in ‘bhakti’, exuding the fragrance of Jnana. Guru-bhakti was his middle name. Once when some disciples asked Swami Sivananda if they could celebrate Swami Chidananda's birthday, he replied 'It is our good fortune that we could celebrate his birthday.' On another occasion, he said, 'Oh ! Chidananda should have been my Guru, I his disciple. The roles have been reversed ! '
Swami Chidananda : “…Bhagavan Ramana is ‘Pure Awareness’ ...”
“Swami Chidananda was a great admirer of Bhagavan Ramana whose darshan he had once. Addressing sadhakas during a ‘Sadhana Week’ in 1990 at Rishikesh, Swami Chidananda said, 'When I say ‘Pure Awareness’, I refer to the state in which Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Ma Anandamoyee Ma were.' On another day he said, 'Sadasiva Brahmendra and Bhagavan Ramana were born Siddhas. Such men are very rare.'
“Swami Sivananda told his disciples and devotees: ‘Serve, give, love, meditate, purify, realize'. Swami Chidananda exemplified this Guru Upadesa, throughout his long life. Chidanandaji was generous to a fault. If people made cash offerings especially to him, he would give them all away. He ate very simple food and in his last years, he had nothing but fried corn and curds. His long-time secretary Swami Ramaswarup once said, 'Swami Chidananda Maharaj is the only Yogi I have met.'
“Some sayings of Saints and Sages have the quality of Mahavakyas. There are many such Mahavakyas of Bhagavan Ramana -- the most important being 'Summa Iru '** = “Be Still”, “Be the Self”. The following guidance of Swami Chidanandaji to the devotees have the resonance of Mahavakyas:
'Think always of the sufferings in the world.’ ‘Think always of Death.’ ‘Think always of the lives of Saints.’ ‘Think always of God.'
Swami Chidanandaji was and is a great Mahatma !
I offer my salutations to Swami Chidanandaji, with all my Heart !
Jai Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj Ki Jai !
