Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)

[birth name: Swaminathan], also known as the Sage of

Kanchi or Mahaperiyava (Tamil: மகாபெரியவா) (meaning, "A venerable sage") was the 68th
Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Mahaperiyava's discourses has been written as
magnum opus based on Hindu philosophy in a Tamil book titled - "Deivathin Kural"
(Tamil: பெய் வெ்தின் குரல் )(Voice of God).

Early life[edit]
Mahaperiyava was born on 20 May 1894 and brought up in the Central part of the southern state
of Tamil Nadu, Villupuram, South Arcot District. His father was Subrahmanya Sastri who was from
a Kannada speaking Hoysala Karnataka Smartha brahmin family that had migrated to Tamilnadu
generations earlier. Subrahmanya Sastri worked as a teacher having entered the educational
service. His mother Mahalakshmi,was also a Kannadiga Brahmin who belonged to the village of
Icchangudi near Tiruvaiyaru.
Swaminathan was the second child of his parents.[1] Sadasiva Sastri was born on 3 October 1903 in
Viluppuram, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu. Swaminathan's upanayanam was performed
in Tindivanam in 1905 and during his brought up, he was well versed with the Vedas and start doing
poojas at his early stage of his life. In 1906, the Sixty-sixth Acharya of Kamakoti Pitha, Sri
Chandrasekharendra Saraswati was camping in Perumukkal, a small village near Tindivanam in
observance of the Chaturmasya vrata. Subrahmanya Sastri went to take the blessings of the
Acharya at that time. The Sixty-sixth Acharya attained Siddhi at Kalavai and Swaminathan's
maternal cousin was installed as the sixty-seventh Acharya. The sixty seventh Acharya had a fever
and due to the unexpected turn of events, Swaminathan was installed as the Acharya. Swaminathan
ascended the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham on 13 February 1907 as the sixty eighth Acharya with
the Sannyasa name Chandrasekhara Saraswati. As per the usual training given to the seers, he was
well trained with the Vedas, puranas, various hindu texts and ancient Indian literature. The Acharya
was fifteen years old in 1909. For two years, he studied under the pandits of
the Matha at Kumbakonam. Then from 1911 to 1914 he studied in Mahendramangalam, in a tiny
village on the Northern bank of Akhanda Kaveri. The Acharya showed interest in subjects such as
photography, mathematics and astronomy as well. He returned to Kumbakonam in 1914. The Matha
was managed by the Court of Wards from 1911-1915 until he turned twenty one in May 1915.

Contributions[edit]
He started spreading his knowledge through spiritual journeys across the Indian spiritual hinterland.
Through his intense devotional practices like the daily rituals such as Sandhyavandhanam, Shri
Chandramouleeshwara Pooja, Shri Panchadhanya Pooja, Shri Kamakshi Amman Pooja & recital of
the vedas, made him popular across countries & continents. Iyengars (who were not part of the
mutt), various sub castes and Muslims & Christians became his devotees. Devotees realized he was
not a normal person and found out him as a 'Jagadguru', through his practices and rectifying their
issues. Mahaperiyava dedicated his life to the primary deity in the premises of Shri Kamakshi
Amman temple, where goddess himself came there for her devotion to Lord Shiva. He carried the
responsibility and made it a simple practice to increase devotion by chanting & writing the holy name
"Rama Rama" which became a religious movement. Devotees came across different origin to give
salutations for his holy feet. Populous speeches made Presidents & heads of different
states/organisations/associations to be in his path of spirituality. Throughout his life he practiced
Advaitha phiosophy of his guru, Adi Shankara, the great hindu philospoher and reformist. Within the
course of his lifeboat, Mahaperiyava renovated multiple temples across india, increased recitals of
Shri Vishnu Saharsanamam which was not allowed by women by then & various mantras towards
gods, increased devotion towards Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple & Tirumala Venkateswara Temple,
implemented Agama Sastra rules heavily to fructify the devotion in religious places & made social
changes on allowing devotees inside the temple premises and also helped vedic priests immensely
on their pronunciation of the vedic language. His 99th birthday celebrations were celebrated by Shri
Jayendrar and Shri Vijayendrar as a huge event. He passed away without celebrating his centenary
on 8 January 1994. His death proved devotees to go beyond numerology and believe only the name
of god in their lifespan. Shri Jayendrar & Shri Vijayendrar continued his holy work even after his
death unlike other Shishyas to gurus. His devotional practices were followed by his devotees.
Lifespan became one of the foremost to experience a divine sojourn.