Shri Mettur Swamigal was personification of humility, the hallmark of a true Jnani and was self-effacing to the core. He never allowed anyone to describe him as a great person or even photograph him. He used to say "Everything is Shri Mahaswamigal; do Namaskaram to him".
Adi Shankaracharya says in the celebrated vedantic text Viveka Chudamani that it is only due to the grace of the Almighty that a jiva attains three rare states, viz. human birth, association with great men and ardent desire for Liberation. Shri Mettur Swamigal was the unique recipient of God's immense kindness and was blessed with all the three.
"A family should have made punyam in koti janma to beget a Sadhu as its off spring"
- Maha Bhakta Vijayam.
Shri Rajagopalan ('Gopu' to our family) was born on 09.02.1938 (Thai Rohini) at Kudavasal near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu as the second son to Shri K.R.Ramachandra Iyer and Smt.Sarasvathi, in an orthodox Tamil brahmin family. While holding a very senior position with M/S.Chettinad Cements, his father was also very vaidhic and would spend hours together in nithya pooja and for divine service. He was an ardent devotee of Shri Mahaswamigal and used to do bikshavandanam at the Kanchi Shri Mutt. As a young boy Shri Rajagopalan used to accompany his family to Kanchi Shri Mutt and was attracted to Shri Mahaswamigal's akarshana shakti. One cannot think of their family without Shri Mahaswamigal. He got qualified as a chemical engineer from Annamalai University and worked for Mettur Chemicals, later quit his job and stayed with Shri Mahaswamigal to serve him for the rest of his life.
- Maha Bhakta Vijayam.
Shri Rajagopalan ('Gopu' to our family) was born on 09.02.1938 (Thai Rohini) at Kudavasal near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu as the second son to Shri K.R.Ramachandra Iyer and Smt.Sarasvathi, in an orthodox Tamil brahmin family. While holding a very senior position with M/S.Chettinad Cements, his father was also very vaidhic and would spend hours together in nithya pooja and for divine service. He was an ardent devotee of Shri Mahaswamigal and used to do bikshavandanam at the Kanchi Shri Mutt. As a young boy Shri Rajagopalan used to accompany his family to Kanchi Shri Mutt and was attracted to Shri Mahaswamigal's akarshana shakti. One cannot think of their family without Shri Mahaswamigal. He got qualified as a chemical engineer from Annamalai University and worked for Mettur Chemicals, later quit his job and stayed with Shri Mahaswamigal to serve him for the rest of his life.
IN THE SERVICE OF SHRI MAHASWAMIGAL
Often Shri Mahaswamigal used to mention about his sishya's untiring service to him... "I have a person by name Rajagopalan who is very orthodox from very young age... he would not take even a fruit for himself from the mutt until I do biksha... After resigning his job he gave all the proceeds to the mutt and is serving me full time... He took great effort to organize and fetch me holy Ganga water from Haridwar"... and so on. The story of Iyppasi Annabhishekam
While in the service of Shri Mahaswamigal at Kancheepuram, he used to get up
by 2.30 am daily braving all weather conditions and go to the palar river 5
kms away in a bicycle to fetch water for his guru's snanam. First he
will dig a spring to take bath and then dig another spring to fetch
water for Shri Mahaswamigal.
When Shri Mahaswamigal undertook his longest paadha yathra to Pandaripuram, Satara etc, it was Shri Rajagopalan who used to do a scouting trip on his bicycle regarding Shri Mahaswamigal's camping sites, water facilities and other miscellaneous chores and he also maintained a chronicle of Shri Mahaswamigal's travels which proved to be a mine of information.
INITIATION INTO SANYASA ASHRAM
Shri Rajagopalan pleaded with Shri Mahaswamigal to be initiated into sanyasa for a long period of time (more than the usual wait during which the applicant's sincerity is tested) but for
some reason Shri Mahaswamigal was delaying it. It was the poorvashrama younger brother of Shri Mahaswamigal, Shri Sivan Sar who advised him to stay with Shri Mutt and remain focused. Later when Shri Rajagopalan went back to Shri Mutt, Shri Mahaswamigal said "The difficulties and insults you experience should be taken as Athma shodhana".
His mother attained Shivaloka praapthi in the year 1978 and when a messenger approached the mutt with this message, Shri Mahaswamigal said "complete your duty and come back". After assigning him to multivarious duties, in the year 1989, he along with Shri Thyagarajan (HH Shri Kuvalaikal Swamigal) was initiated into sanyasa by Shri Mahaswamigal himself ('Sparsa dheeksha' - initiation of a devotee by touch and 'Thiruvadi dheeksha' - carrying the lotus feet of Lord on one's head).
That is the kind of initiation which Lord Brahma received from Lord Subrahmanya and Sundaramoorthy nayanar received from Lord Shiva at Thiruvadigai near Chidambaram in Tamilnadu, for his head was touched by the Lord’s feet.
What a blessing to get initiated into sanyasa... and then on he came to be known as Mettur Swamigal. Shri Mettur Swamigal and Shri Kuvalaikal Swamigal use to recite Shri Lalitha Sahasranama loudly in the presence of Shri Mahaswamigal and the devotees daily in the evenings. Both stayed for some period at Shri Kanchi Mahaswamigal Manimandapam at Orirukkai which was under construction then. They strictly followed the path of Shri Mahaswamigal including travel by foot throughout our country.
Swamigal was helpful in assisting and giving guidance to Sudakshikna Trust and contributing articles and especially of Shri Mahaswamigal's visit to Maharashtra and other places in the year 1981.
His mother attained Shivaloka praapthi in the year 1978 and when a messenger approached the mutt with this message, Shri Mahaswamigal said "complete your duty and come back". After assigning him to multivarious duties, in the year 1989, he along with Shri Thyagarajan (HH Shri Kuvalaikal Swamigal) was initiated into sanyasa by Shri Mahaswamigal himself ('Sparsa dheeksha' - initiation of a devotee by touch and 'Thiruvadi dheeksha' - carrying the lotus feet of Lord on one's head).
That is the kind of initiation which Lord Brahma received from Lord Subrahmanya and Sundaramoorthy nayanar received from Lord Shiva at Thiruvadigai near Chidambaram in Tamilnadu, for his head was touched by the Lord’s feet.
What a blessing to get initiated into sanyasa... and then on he came to be known as Mettur Swamigal. Shri Mettur Swamigal and Shri Kuvalaikal Swamigal use to recite Shri Lalitha Sahasranama loudly in the presence of Shri Mahaswamigal and the devotees daily in the evenings. Both stayed for some period at Shri Kanchi Mahaswamigal Manimandapam at Orirukkai which was under construction then. They strictly followed the path of Shri Mahaswamigal including travel by foot throughout our country.
Swamigal was helpful in assisting and giving guidance to Sudakshikna Trust and contributing articles and especially of Shri Mahaswamigal's visit to Maharashtra and other places in the year 1981.
Swamigal was instrumental in locating spools containing the upanyasams
of Shri Mahaswamigal from Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi's residence. With her permission and with the
help of Shri Ramachandran of Kamakshi Seva Samithi - Mumbai, converted them to modern electronic playback media and released it to the public. It was indeed a milestone in the history of Kanchi Shri Mutt.
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE - an E-Book translating all video experiences with Shri Mahaswamigal by devotees across the world.
It was Shri Mettur Swamigal’s wish to translate the narratives documented as video experiences into book. Professor Sujatha Vijayaraghavan of Pondicherry University made His dream come to reality. She has voluntarily taken up this mammoth initiative which is going to serve as a beacon for the future ‘English Only’ generation.
In the Presence of the Divine, Volume-I was published in 2011 by Professor Sujatha Vijayaraghavan. This book was her translation into English, of the first three volumes of the Tamil series, Darisana Anubhavangal (தரிசன அனுபவங்கள்), so that those who could not read Tamil, could experience a little of the infinite saga of the play of His grace through these narratives. This E-Book will be published periodically with the respective devotee’s video experience in Periyava Puranam.
Swamigal never spoke much about his experiences with Shri Mahaswamigal. If I told him that he was the luckiest person in the world, which I did almost in every visit, he would retort, "Why! so many cockroaches run over Tirupati Venkatachalapati not knowing where they are, while thousands wait for hours for a glimpse" and would deflect my statement. "But it's not like other cockroaches running around the kitchen drain and any way why must it know?" My retort was always ignored as I had never spoken. - Professor Sujatha Vijayaraghavan.
'VOICE OF GOD' (தெய்வத்தின் குரல்) SHRI RA.GANAPATHY HONOURED
When he saw the invitation for Shri Mahaswamigal's centenary celebrations that began in 1993 had no mention of Shri Ra.Ganapathy, the modern Vyasa of the teachings of Shri Mahaswamigal, he drew the attention of the concerned. HH Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal arranged for a purse of Rs.50,000 in a public function to Shri Ra.Ganapathy, and he lost no time in donating it equally to Orirukkai Manimandapam Trust and Kacchi Moodhoor Archaka's Welfare Trust.
His books on Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (தெய்வத்தின் குரல்) are precious gems and bring an infinite variety of recordings from personal experiences, divine lectures, narrations of astounding acts of compassion and erudite expressions of wisdom of the Sage of Kanchi, who was the spiritual colossus, the Mahaperiyava or Mahaswamigal to his devotees.
ACHARYA PARAMPARA THAPOVANAM
'VOICE OF GOD' (தெய்வத்தின் குரல்) SHRI RA.GANAPATHY HONOURED
When he saw the invitation for Shri Mahaswamigal's centenary celebrations that began in 1993 had no mention of Shri Ra.Ganapathy, the modern Vyasa of the teachings of Shri Mahaswamigal, he drew the attention of the concerned. HH Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal arranged for a purse of Rs.50,000 in a public function to Shri Ra.Ganapathy, and he lost no time in donating it equally to Orirukkai Manimandapam Trust and Kacchi Moodhoor Archaka's Welfare Trust.
His books on Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (தெய்வத்தின் குரல்) are precious gems and bring an infinite variety of recordings from personal experiences, divine lectures, narrations of astounding acts of compassion and erudite expressions of wisdom of the Sage of Kanchi, who was the spiritual colossus, the Mahaperiyava or Mahaswamigal to his devotees.
ACHARYA PARAMPARA THAPOVANAM
After Shri Mahaswamigal attained mukthi, Mettur Swamigal also looked after his athishstanam at Kanchi Shri Mutt. Later he went to Kasi on paadha yathra and stayed there for few years doing vedanta vichara; returned to Govindapuram, where he supervised the construction of Kanchi Shrimath Mahaswamigal Thapovanam, housing all the 68 acharyas of kamakoti peetam up to Shri Mahaswamigal and continued his ascetics there.
A very humble Shri Mettur Swamigal never allowed anyone to call him a mahaan. He used to tell "Everything is Shri Mahaswamigal; do namaskaaram to him!". Shri Mettur Swamigal was personification of humility, the hallmark of a true Gnani and was self-effacing to the core. He never allowed anyone to describe him as a great person or even photograph him.
He used to ask those visiting him "எல்லாரும் பெரியவா, பெரியவானு சொல்றேள். அவர் சொன்னதை எவ்வளவு பேர் பாலோ பண்றேள்?" ("All of you are fond of Periyava... how many of you follow his teachings?")
SWAMIGAL ABOUT HIS SAMADHI
After a brief illness, Swamigal was hospitalised in Thanjavur at the end of October 2013. On 01.11.2013, doctors said that Swamigal will be alive for few more hours only. Based on this, arrangements were made to dig a pit for his athishtanam and vaidheekas were arranged for upanishad parayanam. But Swamigal felt better, sat on his bed and asked the vaidhik brahmins to leave after giving sambhavana. The materials brought for athishtanam was kept aside. He spoke about the practice of building athishtanam as brindhavan instead of installing Shivalingam in recent times and it should be changed (May be he insisted on installing Shivalingam on his athishtanam).
HIS LAST NIGHT WITH SHIVA SMARANA
Swamigal never accepted him being called a Guru.. he would only say "I am not even fit to be a good sishya". But a strange change in his behaviour (bhavana) was observed in the last few days. He started blessing by raising both his hands as Shri Mahaswamigal used to bless. A devotee family from USA rushed to visit him on 01.11.2013. Swamigal listened to the Thiruvaasakam "NAMASHIVAYA VAAZHGA" by their son, blessed them with new vasthrams (cloths) as it was Deepavali next day and did anugraham of Shri Mahaswamigal's paathugai with them. Swamigal discussed about Shri Mahaswamigal Manimandapam to be built in the USA and wished that a goshala also be built there. Swamigal spoke on the importance of desi cow over jersi cow and enquired the arrangements for their dinner and retired for the night.
ATTAINED SIDDHI
A very humble Shri Mettur Swamigal never allowed anyone to call him a mahaan. He used to tell "Everything is Shri Mahaswamigal; do namaskaaram to him!". Shri Mettur Swamigal was personification of humility, the hallmark of a true Gnani and was self-effacing to the core. He never allowed anyone to describe him as a great person or even photograph him.
He used to ask those visiting him "எல்லாரும் பெரியவா, பெரியவானு சொல்றேள். அவர் சொன்னதை எவ்வளவு பேர் பாலோ பண்றேள்?" ("All of you are fond of Periyava... how many of you follow his teachings?")
SWAMIGAL ABOUT HIS SAMADHI
After a brief illness, Swamigal was hospitalised in Thanjavur at the end of October 2013. On 01.11.2013, doctors said that Swamigal will be alive for few more hours only. Based on this, arrangements were made to dig a pit for his athishtanam and vaidheekas were arranged for upanishad parayanam. But Swamigal felt better, sat on his bed and asked the vaidhik brahmins to leave after giving sambhavana. The materials brought for athishtanam was kept aside. He spoke about the practice of building athishtanam as brindhavan instead of installing Shivalingam in recent times and it should be changed (May be he insisted on installing Shivalingam on his athishtanam).
HIS LAST NIGHT WITH SHIVA SMARANA
Swamigal never accepted him being called a Guru.. he would only say "I am not even fit to be a good sishya". But a strange change in his behaviour (bhavana) was observed in the last few days. He started blessing by raising both his hands as Shri Mahaswamigal used to bless. A devotee family from USA rushed to visit him on 01.11.2013. Swamigal listened to the Thiruvaasakam "NAMASHIVAYA VAAZHGA" by their son, blessed them with new vasthrams (cloths) as it was Deepavali next day and did anugraham of Shri Mahaswamigal's paathugai with them. Swamigal discussed about Shri Mahaswamigal Manimandapam to be built in the USA and wished that a goshala also be built there. Swamigal spoke on the importance of desi cow over jersi cow and enquired the arrangements for their dinner and retired for the night.
ATTAINED SIDDHI
The next morning (02.11.2013, deepavali day), Swamigal attained siddhi. He lived humbly in devotion to Shri Mahaswamigal. The world lost one of its finest souls who ever took birth. His athishtanam is at Kanchi Shrimath Mahaswamigal Thapovanam, Govindapuram-Kumbakonam (காஞ்சி ஸ்ரீமத் மஹாஸ்வாமிகள் தபோவனம் - கோவிந்தபுரம்-கும்பகோணம்).
VIDEO PLAYLIST
- Athishtana Pravesam on 03.11.2013,
- Shivalinga Prathishtai and Abhishekam on 28.08.2014,
- Experience of Shri Mettur Swamigal with Shri Mahaswamigal.
- Experience of Shri Mettur Ganesan with Shri Mettur Swamigal,
- Experience of Shri Ramanan with Shri Mahaswamigal
- Experiences of Shri A Krishnamurthy with Shri Mettur Swamigal
THE SWAMI I KNEW
When in service at Mettur Chemicals, he lived a saintly life preparing for sanyasa ashrama. During his visits to home he would sleep only on his angavasthram, bath early in the morning in cold water, take food cooked by his mother, aunt or sister-in-law only. He would cook his food (swayambagam) while staying at Mettur.
After he quit his job at Mettur Chemicals, he stayed with Shri Mahaswamigal serving him full time. After his mother's demise in 1978, Shri Rajagopalan was given sanyasa by Shri Mahaswamigal himself in the year 1989. We use to accompany our paternal aunt's (Swamigal's mother) family to Kanchi Shri Mutt to have dharshan of Shri Mahaswamigal. During one such visit after he was given sanyasa, I wondered why my parents prostrated to their nephew but in the later years understood the customs, protocols of the Mutt and the life of a sanyasi.
During my school holidays, I got to interact with artist Silpi (my maternal uncle's father-in-law). who use to share his dharshan experience with Shri Mahaswamigal and Shri Mettur Swamigal, his experience as an artist with the divine, visiting various temples throughout our country. How Kanchi Mahaperiyava changed the life of artist Silpi
After Shri Mahaswamigal attained siddhi and during my visits to Kanchi Shri Mutt and Thapovanam, I had the opportunity to interact more with Swamigal. I used to visit him without prior notice for dharshan and he never showed a slightest objection ever. But later when I happened to hear or read the experience of devotees trying hard to get his dharshan, I realised how blessed I was to have his dharshan everytime. He was so simple and used to talk on various temple visits, our country's welfare and political scenario like an ordinary person. He used to enquire about our native Siddhamalli (village on the banks of Kollidam river) its temples and people of the agrahara known to him. After my last dharshan of him at Govindapuram with my mother, I understood that he has chosen Shri Mahaswami Thapovanam for his athishtanapravesam. I wanted to have his dharshan one more time before his siddhi but Shri Mahaswamigal took him to his lotus feet before that. To me it was like experiencing Shri Mahaswamigal through Shri Mettur Swamigal. We are blessed to have such a great sage from our family and will miss him personally. I am sure he will bless us from his sukshma roopam.
This article is compiled with inputs from my mother (Shri Mettur Swamigal's aunt), online articles (experience of Shri.Vedamurthy, Professor Sujatha Vijayaraghavan and Vaitheeka Shri magazine) collated by Shri.P.R.Kannan, photos/videos from Shri G.Sivaraman, Shri. Jayaraman Ramasamy, online community and print media. I am particularly very thankful to Shri. Jayaraman Ramasamy who frequents Govindapuram and help me with his never ending supply of photos/videos from Swamigal's athishtanam.
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