This great saint’s life mission has to be described means it could be thus “ Self-perfection is the goal of life.”
“His Body, Mind, Heart and Soul- all devoted to the regeneration of India”- Prime Minister Narendra Modi while launching the e-book version of Bhagavad Geeta (Mar 11, 2021) commentary written by the same saint.
“The Swami represented the national ideals of India – renunciation and service “ says Prof. N.Nagendra in his thesis Swami Chidbhavananda his life and work a biographical study.
Yes, we are talking about Swami Chidbhavananda with whom many of us in Tamilnadu were fortunate to be associated for close to seventy plus years.
Affectionately called by Chinnu by his parents, Swami Chidbhavananda was born on 11th March 1898 in Chenguttaipalayam near Pollachi in Coimbatore district of Tamilnadu. He did his schooling in one of the then most prestigious schools in Coimbatore namely the Stanes School. He completed his bachelors from Madras Presidency College. To fulfil the wishes of his parents, he was preparing himself to travel abroad for pursuing higher studies. That is when the destiny revealed its plan for directing him for a higher purpose for which he was given birth to.
On one roadside pavement bookshops, he chanced to browse thro a book on Swami Vivekananda, his life and philosophy. When he studied the book, he realised the purpose of education is not meant to gather knowledge or amass wealth for personal gains. On the other hand, it is to serve the society and the nation. With no loss of time, he proceeded to Ramakrishna Mission, Belur near Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was fortunate to get the tutelage under Swami Shivananda, the direct disciple of Bhagavan Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
As guided by his Guru, he moved to Ooty to establish an Ashram there. Later on a Shankaranti Day in 1937 he started a service centre at Athigaratty named as Kalaimagal Seva Sangh. For non- Tamil readers it is necessary to explain that Kalaimagal is the name of Maa Saraswati. Yes, educating the downtrodden became part and parcel of his life long mission.
At that point in time, Chidbhavananda ji spends some days in Bharatwaja Ashram, Cheranmahadevi.. The Ashram was run by the illustrious freedom fighter VVS Aiyer. It was at that time on one day VVS Aiyer handed over his pooja objects to Chidhbavananda ji and went out with his daughter Subadhra to the Papanasam falls. On that fateful day while taking bath the daughter fell in to whirlpool in that dangerous spot and to save her, VVS Aiyer plunged in which resulted in both of them got drowned and washed away. In a way, it is construed by the gnanis that incident marked the passing on the baton of serving the poor and illiterate without any discrimination of caste and creed. Similarly, his meeting with Narayana Guru reaffirmed his determination to take the treasures of Vedas and Upanishads to every genuine aspirant.
He established his first Ashram (Ramakrishna Tapovanam) at Tiruparaithurai near Tiruchirapalli. He guided many seekers through the Tapovanam. He initiated many through Gayatri Mantram. He conducted spiritual retreats of which his sessions Doubt Clarification (Aiyam thelithal -ஐயம் தெளிதல்) was a sought after ones where in Swamiji answered the questions of his disciples. To quote, consider the following two questions and their answers:
Question: In many of the scriptures, it is stated that the man can break the chain of life and death. Is it possible and how is it possible?
Swamiji: Human life is made of body and soul. Body has death where as the soul is immortal. To break the life-death cycle, one has to get rid of the attachment to body.
Question: How can one come out of the grip of vasanas and papas earned from previous births?
Swamiji: Sathsangh, Atma Vidya, renunciation, service (Karma Yoga) and purification of thoughts.
His commentary to Bhagavad Geeta the Celestial Song and Tiruvachagam- a Tamil poetry by Manickavachagar, a Saivite Saint are the two prominent works where in we get cross references from Vedas to the parables of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
He had educational institutions even in backward areas such as fishermen hamlets. He was thereby successfully stalling the conversion attempts of evangelists in the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu such as Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram.
In the later years of his life, Swamiji understood the RSS in right perspective and willingly came forward to support the movement’s activities. He kept open the doors of his educational institutions and Ashram to conduct various activities of Sangh. In one of the annual summer camps, Swamiji blessed the trainee swayamsevaks whole-heartedly saying, “ you are all the blessed ones (Bhagyawaan) because your activities are in fulfillment of the plans of Swami Vivekananda in nation building.”
He left his mortal body on 16th November 1985. However, he continues to inspire and guide us through his Ashram, activities, educational institutions and literature.
Thanks and regards
Jambunaathan M.R.