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Princes and Potentates, Presidents and Prime Ministers, Gurus and
Commoners often flocked to the Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt
for enlightenment. What did they find in this spiritual personality
with a frail body? The answer is traceable to the hoary history of
the guru tradition dating back to the dawn of Hinduism.
Adi Sankara was
considered an incarnation of Parameshwara. He had synthesized the
feuding Hindu sects and had even absorbed Buddhism in the Hindu fold,
so much so that critics described his Advaitic Monism as disguised
Buddhism. Adi Sankaracharya was born in Kaladi in Kerala. He had
walked the length and breadth of India spreading the Davaitic
Mission. He unified the then prevailing six systems of philosophy
devoted to the worship of Shakti, Ganapathya (Ganapathi), Kaumarya
(Subramanya), Surya, Shiva, Vishnu and came to be known as
Sankaracharya. He stood for oneness without difference of caste,
community or creed. The most favourable quote from Adi Sankara was
Aksam Pathitham Thoyam, Yatha Gacathi Sagarami Sarvadev Namaskaram,
Kesavam Prathi Gachathi. (Just as all the mighty rivers ultimately
flow into the ocean, through whatever mode a devotee worships, he
ultimately reaches the One Lord Kesava). He considered entire
humanity as the children of God. A Chandala accosted him as he was
coming out of the Holy Ganga. The venerable Acharya asks him to make
way. The Chandala posed the question. “What should make way? Is
it the Body or the Atman?” The great Acharya realized that it
was Lord Shiva Himself who has assumed the form of a Chandala to
teach the world that there is no distinction between man and man.
Adi Sankara, founded
Mutts at Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Puri in the east
and Sringeri in the south syhmbolizing the cultural unity of India
even 2000 years back. He came to Kanchipuram towards the end of his
life and installed the Sri Chakra in the Kamakshi temple. He founded
the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam as the central and last Mutt before he
departed at Kamakshi temple itself in 476 BC. There is a shrine
devoted to the Adi Sankara at the very entrance to the temple at
Kanchipuram.
The Kanchi Kamkoti Mutt
has had continuous lineage of Acharyas from 476 BC onwards. Srimad
Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Varya Srimad Chandrasekarendra
Saraswati Swami was the 68th Pontiff who spread the Gospel
for 100 years before he departed in 1994. He attracted people from
all over the world. Paul Brunton was one of his earliest admires.
Arthur Koestler was another. The Queen Mother and the Princess of
Greece found solace in the mystic eyes of the Acharya and frequently
visited the Mutt for comfort. Indira Gandhi sought benediction from
His Holiness when she was out of power. Inspired by the blessings of
the Acharya, she adopted the “Hand” as the symbol for the
Congress party. Way back in 1927, Mahatma Gandhi met the Acharya and
was so moved by the spiritual presence that he told Rajaji that he
had his fill and was not in need of dinner that evening. The Acharya
conveyed significant messages even through silence. The message he
gave the country on 15th August 1947 or in the aftermath
of the Chinese war of 1962 will be read with interest even today as
giving hope and succour when the Nation was in need of enlightenment.
Maithrim Bajatha was a shloka (verse) specially composed by the
Acharya urging nations to cultivate peace and friendship. The shloka
was rendered emotionally by M.S.Subbulakshmi at the United Nations in
1964. The Acharya was the embodiment of harmony – the perfectly
stringed lute that makes celestial music. Christians and Muslims
offered their pranams (respect) at his feet. He traversed the entire
Indian subcontinent from Rishikesh to Kanyakumari like Adi Sankara.
His favourite advice was Bhuthadayam Vishtharaya (Mayyour compassion
expand to all beings). The Kamakoti Mutt at Kanchipuram believed in
the motto that merit lay in helping others, sin in harming others.
In recent years the
Kanchi Mutt has dedicated itself to social work apart from spititual
enlightement for the masses. Centres have been established by the
Mutt in far flung places like Assam and Gujarat. Hospitals are run
and there is a deemed University in Kanchipuram devoted to the cause
of higher education. Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swami and his younger
disciple Sri Sankara Vijayndera Saraswati Swami were both chosen by
the Paramacharya in 1954 and 1983 as the 60th and 70th
Pontiffs.
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