Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi
Encyclopedia
Bodhendra Saraswathi was a 17th-century Hindu
pontiff and the 59th Jagathguru(head) of the Kanchi matha
, Kanchipuram
, Tamil Nadu
, India
. He spent his later life in Govindapuram
.
couple, Kesavapanduranga Yogi and Suguna in the beginning of 17th century at Kanchipuram
, 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 Purushotamman 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
. It gradually dawned on him that namasankeerthanam(chanting of Lord Rama's name) would fetter the cycles of death and birth in Kali Yuga
. He chanted Rama nama(the name of Lord Rama) one lakh times everyday.
after obtaining Lakshmi Sreedhar's Bhagawan Nama Koumundhi from the author himself at Jagannatha kshetram(Puri Jagannath), 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
(teacher) gave him a golden opportunity to pour out his devotion to Lord Rama and to vindicate the efficacy of Rama Nama(name of Lord Rama).
at the spot.. One morning, in the Purattasi(Sep-Oct) month of the year 1692, Bodhendra Saraswathi attained Jeeva Samadhi sitting in an yogic
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
is maintained by the Kanchi matha
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
pontiff and the 59th Jagathguru(head) of the Kanchi matha
Kanchi matha
The Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
, Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He spent his later life in Govindapuram
Govindapuram, Thanjavur
Govindapuram is a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at a distance of 7 kilometres from Kumbakonam and 27 kilometres from Mayiladuthurai and 1 kilometre from Thiruvidaimarudur....
.
Early Life
Bodhendra was born to a brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
couple, Kesavapanduranga Yogi and Suguna in the beginning of 17th century at Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
, which was then headquarters of Kanchi matha
Kanchi matha
The Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
. 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
Kanchi matha
The Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
. The child was named Purushotamman 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
Kanchi matha
The Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
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
Sruti
' , often spelled shruti or shruthi, is a term that describes the sacred texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism and is one of the three main sources of dharma and therefore is also influential within Hindu Law...
and the Smriti
Smriti
Smriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
. It gradually dawned on him that namasankeerthanam(chanting of Lord Rama's name) would fetter the cycles of death and birth in Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...
. He chanted Rama nama(the name of Lord Rama) one lakh times everyday.
Initiation of Sainthood
Athmabodhar instructed Bodhendra Saraswati to proceed to KanchipuramKanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
after obtaining Lakshmi Sreedhar's Bhagawan Nama Koumundhi from the author himself at Jagannatha kshetram(Puri Jagannath), 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
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
(teacher) gave him a golden opportunity to pour out his devotion to Lord Rama and to vindicate the efficacy of Rama Nama(name of Lord Rama).
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 salvationSalvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
at the spot.. One morning, in the Purattasi(Sep-Oct) month of the year 1692, Bodhendra Saraswathi attained Jeeva Samadhi sitting in an yogic
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
state. He attained Videha Mukthi
Videha mukti
Videha mukti refers to the moksha attained by a person after death. This a Hindu view of death....
at Govindapuram on Full Moon day in the month of Proshtapada of the cyclic year Prajotpatti (1692 AD). The Samadhi of Bodhendra Saraswathi
Samadhi of Bodhendra Saraswathi
The samadhi or tomb of Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi, the 59th Shankaracharya of Kanchi matha is located in the town of Govindapuram in Thanjavur district and is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination.- History :...
is maintained by the Kanchi matha
Kanchi matha
The Kanchi math is a Hindu monastic institutionlocated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the fivepancha-bhUta-sthalas...
.