SWAMI SUDARSHNACHARYA JI MAHARAAJ
To give an introduction to Guruji is
like showing a candle to the sun in broad daylight.
His Holiness Srimad JagadGuru Ramanuj
Acharya Swami Sudershanacharyaji Maharaj or as He is
called Guruji or Gurumaharaj by most of His followers
was born in the state of Rajasthan, Savai madhavpur
district, Padla village in a prosperous Brahmin family
who worked as farmers. He was named as Shiv(shambhu)
Dayal Sharma.
Since childhood He was an ardent devotee
of Lord Narayan and had a fire inside Him for helping
others.
When He was a mere three and a half
years old He heard a saint sing the words
"Liya Diya Tere Sang Chalega, Dharm
Karam Ka Nata Hai, Sai Naam Ki Chinta Kar Le, dene Wala
Daata Hai"
Which translates "Whatever you give
and take will go with you, religion and deeds are your
associates, worry about taking the name of God, Lord
is the giver"
The above words had a tremendous impact
on His mind and that diverted Him to the path of devotion
and the words of that saint had such an impact that
no material thing or desire ever touched His mind thereafter.
In Badlakhatla, Vrindavan (U.P)<
which is one of the oldest schools for Sanskrit students
and teachers and scholars, He found the right teacher
in His Holiness Guru Shri Govind Acharya who was a Guru
in the Ramanuj tradition. He was formally initiated
as a disciple of His Guru and completed His study under
His expert guidance.
After completing His study He went
to Kashi in quest of further knowledge. He read the
Vedas, shastra,puranas,darshanshatra etc. and obtained
a tremendous knowledge of religion from its root. He
not only got a test of the powers of holy mantras but
also got them under His control.
With the same inspiration He went to
the deep forest of Bangarh (which is now a wild life
sanctuary) about 200 Km from His village and started
some severe penances. He continued his austerities and
penances for 12 years. During this period of penances
He made and stayed in huts near Todabhim at Panchmadi
Narayani Mata, Bhartuharji and Pandarpur.
During the final stages of His penances
one saint who appeared to be muslim by appearance (Lord
Narayan) came to Him and said " My devotee You are hungry
since three days, I have bought you three rotis(bread),
eat it". But Guruji said, "No dear saint I won’t
eat them." Then the saint said "You eat two, I will
eat one." But Guruji refused.
The saint said He would eat two and
offered Guruji one roti, but Guruji refused once again.
So in front of Guruji the saint ate
all the three Himself. After eating them He said that
"looking at Your penance, Your divine aim and Your pledge
of helping the world I had come to give you all the
three worlds but You refused. But never mind, tomorrow
before nine in the morning another saint will come to
You and don’t refuse to take food from him."
Next day at the given time a saint
came and insisted Guruji to have food and Guruji on
the advise of the saint who had come a day before took
the food which was offered to Him.
The saint gave Him a benediction that
whatever Guruji will want He will get. Since that day
the world has been benefited in all possible ways from
Guruji and this tradition will continue.
He has proved to be a jewel in the
crown of the Ramanuj Sampradaya and the Vaishnav world,
for which all the saints of the Sampradaya, to acknowledge
His devotion to God, love for humanity and His dedication
to help the entire world, unanimously gave Him the highest
respect and position in the Sampradaya, the position
and level of JAGADGURU.
At the holy banks of the river Ganges
and the divine occasion of Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar
in the year 1998, in presence of Jagadguru’s of
other Sampradayas Peethadeeshwars,Tridandi Swamis He
was bestowed with the honor of Jagadguru.
This was a truly splendid function,
which people will never forget and those who missed
will always regret. |
