Bodhendra Saraswathi was a 17th-century
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
pontiff and the 59th ''Jagathguru'' (head) of the
Kanchi matha,
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
,
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. He spent his later life in
Govindapuram.
Early life
Bodhendra was born to Kesavapanduranga Yogi and Suguna in the beginning of 17th century (in the year 1610)at
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
, which was then headquarters of
Kanchi matha. The couple did not have children for a long time and believed that they were blessed by the devotion to Viswakendra Saraswati(Athmabodhar), the 58th Jagathguru of the
Kanchi Matha. The child was named Purushotaman by Viswakendra Saraswati.
Seeing the extraordinary qualities and immense potentialities of the child, to render incalculable good to humanity, Sri Viswakendra Saraswati requested his parents to hand over the child to the
Kanchi Matha with the pious hope of making the child succeed him. The parents willingly gave the child to the mutt. The child attained extra ordinary mastery over ''
Sruti'' and the ''
Smriti
''Smriti'' ( sa, स्मृति, IAST: '), literally "that which is remembered" are a body of Hindu texts usually attributed to an author, traditionally written down, in contrast to Śrutis (the Vedic literature) considered authorless, that ...
''. It gradually dawned on him that ''nama sankeerthanam'' (chanting of
Lord Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being ...
's name) would fetter the cycles of death and birth in ''
Kali Yuga
''Kali Yuga'', in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. It is believed to be the present age, which is ...
''. He chanted ''Rama nama'' (the name of
Lord Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being ...
) one lakh times every day.
Initiation of Sainthood
Athmabodhar instructed Bodhendra Saraswati to proceed to
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
after obtaining Lakshmi Sreedhar's ''Bhagawan Nama Koumundhi'' from the author himself at Jagannatha ''Kshetram'' (
Puri
Puri () is a coastal city and a Nagar Palika, municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is als ...
), and to compose a lakh of ''Bhagawan Nama slokas'' (sacred texts on lord) on the basis of ''Bhagawan Nama Koumundhi''. The above-mentioned mandate of his ''
guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
'' (teacher) gave him a golden opportunity to pour out his devotion to
Lord Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being ...
and to vindicate the efficacy of ''Rama Nama'' (name of
Lord Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being ...
).
At Lakshmi Sreedhar's residence in Jagannath, a young couple were waiting to see Lakshmi Sreedhar. The husband recounted his unfortunate plight: He and his wife had embarked on a pilgrimage to Kasi, when his wife was abducted by a group of Muslims. Heart broken, he had continued to complete his pilgrimage and while returning, was taking bath at a river bank. A little distance away a group of Muslim ladies were bathing, and one of them, on perceiving him, dissociated herself from the group and ran towards him and urged him, "Dear husband let us run away and escape".Both had retired to safety, and come hither to receive instructions as to what to do further, since it was not proper to receive the spouse without undergoing a prayaschiitam (atonement). Lakshmi Sreedhar submitted that chanting Sri Rama Nama would suffice. Bodhendral asked Sreedhar for evidence. Lakshmi Sreedhar pointed out the section from "Bhagwaan Nama Koumudhi". Bodendral decided to prove the veracity of this statement and accompanied the couple to the Pushkarani (Holy water tank). At His instance, the abducted girl dipped into the waters in her muslim garb and surfaced, with Hindu attire and a bindhi on her forehead. This miracle occurred consequent to the divinity inherent in Bodendral. Following this incident at Jagannath, He was named Bhagawan Nama Bodendral.
[Yenipadigalil Mandargal, a spiritual treatise by Shivan Sir, Narmada Publications, Chennai, India]
Govindapuram
Bodhendra Saraswathi, during the course of his wanderings in the Cauvery delta
was attracted by the beauty of the place and decided to attain ''samadhi'' or
salvation
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
at the spot.
One morning, in the ''
Purattasi (September–October)'' month of the year 1692, Bodhendra Saraswathi attained ''Jeeva Samadhi'' sitting in a
yogic
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
state.
He attained
Videha Mukthi at Govindapuram on Full Moon day in the month of Proshtapada of the cyclic year Prajotpatti (1692 AD). The
Samadhi of Bodhendra Saraswathi
The samadhi of Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi, the 59th Shankaracharya of Kanchi matha is located in the town of Govindapuram in Thanjavur district, India and is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination.
History
Bodhendra Saraswathi, the 17th-ce ...
is maintained by the
Kanchi matha.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswathi, Bodhendra
Indian Hindu monks
Shankaracharyas
17th-century Indian scholars
1692 deaths
Year of birth unknown
17th-century Hindu religious leaders
Scholars from Tamil Nadu
People from Kanchipuram district
1610 births