Sadguru Sri Gnanananda Giri Maharaj, a Himalayan Sage, Mahayogi and great Gnana Siddha lived to a phenomenally long and undetermined age. Not much is known about his early life. Many were curious to know the secret of his conquest of the aging process of the body. He would discourage their queries about his age, saying with a gentle smile "Ask me about the immortal Atman within and not about the perishable body". But, from his chance remarks, those close to him have made out an account of his life. He was born of orthodox Brahmin parents in Mangalapuri near Gokarna, a sacred pilgrimage center in Karnataka, most probably 1200 years ago (could be more). While a boy of tender years, he experienced Saktinipata or Descent of Grace and was led by a light to the famous Kshetra in Maharashtra, Pandharpur on the banks of Chandrabhaga River. There he met his Guru Sri Swami Sivaratna Giri, belonging to Jyotir Mutt, the northern regional mutt established by Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadacharya. Whenever he referred to his Master, emotion surged in him obstructing the flow of words. Obviously, years spent by him in the tutelage of his preceptor were replete with scintillating episodes of joy and experience. Himalayan Sage -
Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya, wandering monk, par excellence
After the Mahasamadhi of his Guru, Sri Gnanananda renounced his title to the pontificate and retired to the remote heights of the Himalayas for intense penance. How long he remained there and how long he traversed the entire length and breadth of India, Nepal, Burma and Sri Lanka could only be a matter of conjecture. But he revealed familiarity with most of the places in these parts of the sub-continent at a time when modern means of transport did not exist. He was fully conversant with the writings of Tamil saints acquired most probably from his long stay in Tamil- speaking areas of Sri Lanka. His knowledge of Sanskrit was good. He could converse freely in Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu with the same facility as in Tamil and Kannada. It was clear from his casual references that he had come into touch with spiritual luminaries of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Ramalinga Swamigal, Saibaba of Shirdi, Sendamangalam Avadhoota Swamigal and his Guru known as "Judge Swamigal", Vithoba of Polur, Seshadri Swamigal, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Aurobindo and several others were amongst them. During his stay in the Narasimha Guha of Sampatgiri hills near Polur, he used to visit Sri Ramana when he was in Virupaksha cave. Many devotees believe that "Kulla Swami" mentioned by the patriot poet Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati refers to Sri Gnanananda who was in Pondicherry at that time. Attayampatti and Siddhalingamadam -
Sri Gnanananda was a Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya, an itinerant Sannyasin teacher par excellence, who loved anonymity and obscurity and moved about freely avoiding permanent stay at any particular place. However, early in the twentieth century when he came to Attayampatti in Salem district he yielded to the entreaties of the poor people and allowed them to construct an Ashram for him. In the late thirties, he moved to Siddhalingamadam situated at about six miles from Tirukoilur, in South Arcot district, on the southern bank of the South Pennar River, renowned as Dakshina Pinakini - southern Ganges. From time immemorial, the place was associated with Siddhas. In 1951, he shifted to a mango grove on the northern bank of the river. An ashram called Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam grew around his presence. It is believed to be the sacred spot where sage Mrigandu, the father of the immortal Markandeya performed penance. It is situated at about 3 km from Tirukoilur on the highway to Tiruvannamalai. Spiritual eminence of Tirukoilur-
According to ancient religious tradition, this part of Tamil Nadu known as Krishnaranya in the hoary past, was sanctified by the presence of great saints through the centuries. Here, Lord Krishna , pleased with the penance of the sage Mrigandu gave darshan to him as Vamana, the Trivikrama Avatar of Vishnu. The first three Alwars (Sri Vaishnavaite saints) met and ecstatically sang the glory of the Lord in this ancient temple. Tirukoilur is an important center for Saivaites also. Kilaiyur shrine is one of the Ashta Veerattana or the eight special temples of Siva. Saivaite saints have offered hymns in praise of the Lord who had slain the demon Andhakasura. Avvayar, the Siddha poetess pleased Sri Ganesa in the same temple by offering her immortal composition "Vinayakar Agaval" replete with deep insights of yoga. Saint Gnanasambandar was steeped in ecstasy on the sight of Arunachala from the shrine of Atulyanatheswara situated on a big rock on the northern bank of the river. Nearby is the Mula Brindavana of Swami Raghottama Tirtha, a saint highly venerated in Madhwa tradition. He took his Eternal Abode in Samadhi more than 400 years ago. Situated within easy reach from Tiruvannamalai, Tirukoilur partakes of the spiritual grandeur of Arunachala, as Lord Siva has decreed that its potency will help all aspirants living within the radius of 3 yojanas from the holy hill attain Sayujya, no separate diksha being necessary for cutting off the knots of bondage. Considering the spiritual importance of this hallowed spot dating back to many centuries, it seems no accident that Sri Gnanananda has chosen it for locating his Ashram towards the close of his long spiritual ministry and for resting in it in Samadhi for eternity, keeping unbroken the tradition of the eminence of the Kshetra. Adhyatma Vidyalaya-
In the initial stages of its development, Sannyasins were the main inmates of Thapovanam. Later, when Sri Gnanananda settled down there permanently, shifting from Siddhalingamadam, devotees came to him from all parts of India and abroad. He called the Ashram an Adhyatma Vidyalaya, a school for Self-knowledge and initiated a few disciples into Sannyas in the traditional manner. He encouraged the study of Vedanta and personally guided their Sadhana or spiritual practice.
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