Koti Swami : ‘A Siddha Purusha’

KOTI SWAMI : ‘A SIDDHA PURUSHA’

Life

Mother INDIA abounds with Sages, Saints and Seers. They are of two kinds -- 'Mukta Purusha ' and 'Siddha Purusha '. Muktas are those who have realised their true identity with the One Absolute Reality and could cogently expound their teachings -- rationally and logically. Spiritual treatises emanate from them. Though spiritually they soar far above ordinary mortals, they conduct themselves in the day-to-day life, quite normally. Siddhas are truly, fully spiritually elevated; but, they lead an abnormal life. Their behaviour may appear queer to the onlookers. They often possess siddhis (occult powers), like thought-reading, predicting the future, hypnotising and performing miracles. Even in their day-to-day activities, like taking food, they may follow their own strange ways. For instance, they might eat enormous quantities of food at one time and go without food for long periods. Despite such abnormal behaviours, their bodies show no marked change, at all!

Yet, in showering compassion on fellow-beings, including animals, birds and plants, the Mukta and the Siddha are identical. They love all beings equally and without a trace of attachment. The Mukta gives his Wisdom teachings clearly and systematically, whereas the Siddha is content to help people in his own queer methods which may perhaps be beyond the understanding of logical minds. However, for both, helping the poor, the needy and the suffering is spontaneous, natural and involuntary.

Ilaya Raaja - the ‘Music Wizard’

KOTI SWAMI - an acclaimed 'Siddha Purusha' -- was living in Puravipalayam village in Tamil Nadu, and was well taken care of by a Zamindar (owner of very vast landed properties). My close friend, Ilaya Raaja, during one of his visits to the Ashram, told me : “Late in my life of spirituality, I was introduced to Koti Swami. I was eager to meet with a 'Siddha Purusha' in flesh and blood. Coming to know of my deep eagerness, my friend, Soundararajan told me about one great 'Siddha Purusha', living near Coimbatore, on the upper floor of a Zamindar's palatial house”.

Let us listen to Ilaya Raaja :

"My friend took me there. Who is this Siddha? What is his original name? Where does he hail from? How old is he? What is his teaching? These thoughts naturally crossed my mind before I met him.

"The Zamindar kindly took me upstairs and I saw the 'Siddha' face to face. The immediate reaction in me was that my entire being collected together and dived within, making me vibrantly lost in myself. After garlanding him, offering my obeisance and putting a few eatables in his mouth (he is always fed by others; he does not eat anything himself), I waited for the 'Siddha ' to speak a few words to me.

"Suddenly, he turned his glowing eyes on me and said, 'Go ! Lie down there. Sleep! You are tired! You need rest! Go, go!" I lay down near his easy-chair and fell asleep, immediately. After some time, it seems he said, 'Enough! Now! You! Wake up!" Forthwith, I got up, absolutely fresh in body and mind! The tremendous tension that was surging in me all these days, was thus soothingly healed and removed. The 'Siddha' granted me thus a blissful experience in his own child-like, simple but queer way. I was convinced, 'Yes! He is a great 'Siddha', indeed!"

"I gathered what little information I could about the Saint from the Zamindar and others there. He is known popularly as 'Koti Swami', 'Koti Thatha', 'Koti Siddhar' and 'Ponmudi Swami'. No one knew his real name; neither his place of origin nor his age. He often refers to individuals who lived 300 years ago, in intimate terms, like 'Thotapuri' of Sri Ramakrishna fame. He rarely drinks water, though he eats whatever is put into his mouth. Once in several months he asks for steaming hot water to drink, which he gulps all in one go! He does not seem to sleep, and rarely answers nature's call. Though he looks old, he is hale and healthy. Peace prevails in his presence. His love is transparent, though there is no trace of attachment in it.

Koti Swami : ‘A Siddha Purusha’

"Twenty-five years ago, the wife of the Zamindar went to see the Siddha near Palani. He got into her car -- he himself opened the door and sat in it. When he was brought to Puravipalayam and taken round the house, he saw every nook and corner of it and at the end, chose the corner of the upstairs verandah. He never got down from that place again! Since he repeatedly uses the word 'Koti ' (ten million), he has come to be known as 'Koti Swami '.

“I asked him about 'Arunachala' and about Bhagavan Ramana. He said, 'Arunachala ! Very big ! 'Koti ' people go there. Oh! What a crowd there! Always, many many 'Koti ' people flocking! All Mahans (Saints)!' After a pause, 'Ramana Rishi ! Very rich! He gives away everything -- to all! He has much to give! Not like me, I am a pauper!”

Ilaya Raaja added : " 'Koti Thatha ' guides seekers in his own inimitable peculiar way. One has to be very watchful in grasping the real meaning of his utterances. When a close friend of mine asked him for 'upadesa' (teaching), Swami said, "'Koti ' people come and 'Koti ' people go. None is left behind!" My friend understood it to mean, 'Thoughts are plenty, they are the hindrances. Remain in the state where there is no trace of thought at all!"

On hearing from him, the above glorious comments, I went into ecstasy. Seeing my condition, he took me to Puravipalayam, in his next visit to the Ashram. I was amazed to be in the presence of 'Koti Thatha'. One day, I requested the Zamindar to arrange an exclusive private meeting with 'Koti Thatha'. He agreed; and, one early morning, he sent me upstairs where 'Koti Thatha' stayed alone. He bolted and locked the door leading to the stairs, so that I could spend time exclusively with Thatha .

"The whole experience of that blessed morning is evergreen in my memory. I observed that 'Koti Thatha' was exceptionally ‘alert, awake and aware’, all the time. I started meditating seated at his feet, which were stretched straight on an easy chair on which he sat all the time. I was concentrating on the "presence" seated in front of me by focusing my attention on him. He was, as his wont, looking above, down, sideways without moving his head -- some times smiling, some times murmuring and some times laughing slightly aloud -- all to himself. I should share that the pupils in his eyes would move or roll all around; and, when the pupil of the right eye rolled towards the eastern side, the left eye's pupil would roll towards the western side. This spectacle happened quite often, too!

"Since I felt very happy in his presence, I was emboldened to pray to him, 'Thatha ! I want your Anugraha (Grace)!'. He was looking away from me; and, suddenly turned his full attention on me and looked straight into my eyes and said, ‘Is it possible for you to come 'There'?’ I humbly replied from my heart, 'Thatha ! I know, I can't come 'There'! But, if you take me 'There', I could definitely come 'There'!' He was very much pleased and replied, "Ha! Well said, well said! Yes, That is true!" Then, followed a long period of total silence. Thatha continued to focus his attention on me.

"Suddenly, he gave out a big laughter and said, 'Oh ! I see 'Koti ' planes, 'Koti ' airplanes! 'Koti ' people! 'Koti ' happiness to all !'

"On my return to Arunachala, in gratitude to what I received from this incomparable 'Siddha Purusha', I went around the Sacred Mountain, chanting, praying and in ecstasy. Near Adi Annamalai, suddenly I saw a halo forming itself on the sky near me, and I vividly saw the bust of 'Koti Thatha'. He smiled at me, most graciously and repeated what he had told me at Puravipalayam, 'Oh! I see 'Koti ' planes, I see 'Koti ' airplanes! 'Koti' people! 'Koti ' happiness to all!'

"I was thrilled ! Before completing the circumambulation of the Hill, I entered into the home of Yogi Ramsuratkumar and prostrated to him. I was intending to get an explanation from him. He happily asked me, 'Ganesa! You had been to 'Koti Thatha '. Tell me in detail what all happened in his presence!' I was overjoyed and told him in minutest details what all had taken place. And, finally narrated to him the spectacle that took place a few moments back and requested him to give out its significance. He laughed and laughed repeatedly, beating me on the back by way of appreciating me and blessing me. And, said amidst laughter, 'Oh ! Can't you see ! 'Koti Thatha' is blessing you to go abroad ! He is implying that you will be flying - many times too! - and be giving talks on our Beloved Bhagavan's Teaching, benefitting many people there and making them very happy !'

Only a few years after that, Yogiji specifically gave me a firm direction that I should go abroad and give talks on the 'Direct Teaching' of Sri Bhagavan's method of 'Self-Enquiry'. While saying it, Yogiji reminded me of how a few years back itself 'Koti Thatha ' had already predicted it!

Ours is indeed a Punya Bhoomi (Sacred Land) ! Where else can one hope to meet with great Mukta Purushas like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Bhagavan Ramana; and Siddha Purushas like Seshadri Swami and 'Koti Thatha'!

How blessed we are all!