[Chaturamnaya] Life and Teachings of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal - 5

[S Jayanarayanan]

 (Continued from previous post)

http://svbf.org/journal/vol4no1/Mahasannidhanam.pdf

3. The Ideal Disciple

Srinivasan’s mother often found it difficult to feed her family due to the extreme poverty.
“Let my Upanayanam be performed,” said Srinivasan, “I will fetch you what I get from Bhikhsa and
with that your food problems will be solved.” The mother, although touched by Srinivasan’s
deep concern, could not accept the offer. Providence willed otherwise.
His Holiness Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswami (Paramacharya) who was then the
Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham wished to spend more time in penance, and
hence felt the need to hand over the pontifical duties to a successor. He had made known this
intention to Srikanta Sastry (the Sringeri Mutt agent) who initiated a search for boys with
a natural inclination for the sannyasa order.
Srikanta Sastry consulted various astrologers of whom Venkatarama Sastry was one.
Venkatarama Sastry immediately handed over Srinivasan’s horoscope. On hearing that
Srinivasan’s Upanayanam had not been performed, Srikanta Sastry took a decision to perform
it at Sringeri at the Mutt’s expense.
This was a Godsend! Rama Sastry readily agreed and the family reached Sringeri in the midst of the
Sankara Jayanti celebrations. Srinivasan’s Upanayanam was fixed for May 4,1930. It was to be at
Sharada Devi’s temple and the time of the sacred Brahmopadesam coincided with the pealing of the
temple bell.

Wonderful Drama

After performing the religious observances connected with the Upanayanam ceremony, Rama Sastry and
the members of his family went to pay their respects to the Paramacharya at Narasimhavanam.
(this is on the opposite bank of the river Tunga, where the sacred abode of the Jagadguru is
situated). The austere eyes of the Jagadguru fell compassionately on Srinivasan. A wonderful drama,
whose essence was completely missed by the others, was then enacted between the Guru and the disciple.
In the ensuing conversation the Paramacharya was pleased that Srinivasan was not interested in
further schooling, to equip himself for a job, but that he preferred to stay in the Mutt and
study Sanskrit.
The Paramacharya continued his questioning pertaining to Srinivasan’s school studies and asked him
about one moral that he thought was most important.
Srinivasan’s reply that it was to keep good company and avoid evil associations satisfied the
Paramacharaya who then asked, “Will you study here?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Srinivasan answered in the affirmative. Turning to his parents he
said, “You can go home, for I wish to be student here.”
Srinivasan developed the habit of waking up at around 4:30 a.m.. Then, after a wash and a bath,
he used to perform his ordained duties with meticulous care. After a light breakfast he studied
till noon. In the afternoons, after his Madhyahnikam (noon prayers), he used to go for a meal
which had been arranged at Narasimhavanam itself. He was not in the habit of sleeping in the
afternoons and was constantly engaged in studies. It used to be 10:30 at night before he retired
for the day.

(To be continued)
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