The Saint With The Golden Hand - Part I

The divinity in Seshadri Swamigal began to blossom with full fragrance to the world outside when He chose to reside in Thiruvannamalai. He is said to have spent fourty years there. He was seen meditating in different places in Thiruvannamalai. It was He who sheltered Ramana Maharshi from the troublesome urchins and declared Ramana's greatness. The people affectionately Periya Seshadri (Big Seshadri ) and Ramana as Chinna Seshadri (Small Seshadri).

Seshadri Swamigal was a living example of a Jnani. He refused the food of the wealthy but resorted to beg food from the poor. He gave away the expensive clothes offered to Him by the rich to the poor or used them to decorate the tail and the horns of a cow. He did not own anything for himself.
He was in total oneness with everything and every being. He neither detested to sit near dirt, slush or a slum nor did he feel disgusted while He shared His food with beggars and dogs in the same leaf.

Seshadri Swamigal's behaviour was difficult to reason out. He got himself drenched in rain and resorted to take shelter when the rain had stopped. He seldom had a bath but would have a pint of oil poured over His head as He walked about the streets. His only clothing was a dhoti and a cloth that covered His upper body. He at times offered His feet gladly to people who wanted to prostrate to him; at other times He did not entertain people. He would speak at length meaninglessly and was seen to move about without even a little rest. His voice broke out into melodious songs and he would start dancing with His hands on His hips, but nevertheless the masses did not fail to recoganise His divinity.

All the above mentioned actions denoted the quality of sainthood that did not fit into a frame work of identity. He totally was not body conscious nor did He bother about public opinion. Seshadri Swamigal is said to have brought about miraculous cures and performed a lot of miracles. He is said to have presented people with visions both in the waking as well as in the dream state. He was omniscient and could talk of the past, present and the future. One event that proved His omniscience was when He ran the streets of Thiruvannamalai declaring that Vitoba Swamigal of Polur had reached heaven. The news of Vitoba Swamigal shedding His body in Polur reached Thiruvannamalai much later.

I would also like to state a miracle with regards to my cousin when we had visited Thiruvannamalai. The priest of the Sheshadri ashram called out to us as we stood near the shrine and began talking about the praises of the great saint. He further said that Seshadri Swamigal bestowed blessings on His devotees in mysterious ways. He also said that those who craved for children and those of whose marriage was delayed were miraculously blessed. My cousin and I were surprised as she was also in want of a child. With the saint's blessings she gave birth to twins in the due course.

Bhagavan Seshadri Swamigal shed His body on January 4, 1929. His mortal coil was buried with due respect attributed to that of a Jnani after being carried in procession where Ramana Maharshi was also said to have joined. A Samadhi is constructed on the place where His body was buried, an important place of worship in Thiruvannamalai. Sri Seshadri Swamigal still lives bestowing grace on all. His devotees take to Nama Japa or recitation of God's name as a spiritual practise.

The mantra of Seshadri Swami which is said to bestow His blessings in abundance is 'Om Sadguru Sri Seshadri Swamigal Tiruvadike'

Hence lets worship this great saint for deliverance from all kinds of maladies, especially the grave one that is of birth and death.