Supremo of Divine Knowledge

Prepared by

A.N. Pavithran M.Ed.

Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha State Committee Member

July 1^st 2002 witnessed a sad event by Keralites.  On that morning one of the eminent followers of Sree Narayana Guru, Brahmasree Saswathikananda Swami, lost his life in the depths of Periyar River in front of Alwaye Advaita Ashramam.  Termed as ‘jela Samadhi’, it was the end of a dynamic personality who was engaged in the sacred mission of spreading Sree Narayana Guru’s lofty ideals of ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ and ‘Viswamanavikatha’ both in the native land and abroad.  ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ is spirituality transcending religions.   ‘Viswamanavikatha’ is oneness of all mankind.  He was also engaged in the unification of all movements in vogue in the name of Sree Narayana Guru.  His deep knowledge and dexterity in popularizing Guru Devan’s teachings were unique.

Advaita darshanam (envisaging God’s oneness), Viswamanavikatha and Mathatheetha Adhyatmikatha, which were the essence of Guru’s teachings based on the Vedas and Upanishads and of the Guru’s own revelations through self realization were simplified and made easy for people to understand.  He propagated these teachings through the services of Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha, an organization started since the Maha Samadhi of the great Guru.  Religions were founded by World Gurus during historic times. But Adhyatmikatha, the knowledge of self and of the Unified Divine Force was revealed by the saints and seers (Rishies) of yore.  This knowledge visualizes the Universal Consciousness that permeates and governs the entire Universe.  This knowledge of Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata or the spirituality that transcends religions is the basic foundation of Sree Narayana Guru’s revelations.  In popularizing Guru’s teachings Saswathikananda Swamiji gave emphasis on this aspect of the Guru’s message, the World over.  The following are the highlights of his exemplary services.

In the Universal prayer ‘Daiva Dasakam’ composed by Sree Narayana Guru, he adores God, “Thou art Creation, the Creator and the Universe of all Created Things and Thou art O! God the Material for Creation”.  This vision of God implies everything is God, the creator, the creation and the material used for creation are all God, and there is nothing devoid of God.  The message “One Creed, One Religion, One God for Man” is enshrined in this all-round holistic approach.  In all hymns composed by the Guru for the devotees to sing, the underlying spiritual stream of God’s oneness is brought out throughout whichever incarnation the hymn relates.  Swamiji brings this aspect to the devotees of the Guru.  In his style of social contact Swamiji used to give equal brotherly status to people of all religious faiths, to promote religious harmony foreseen by the Great Guru.

Swamiji sought to propagate Guru Deva’s teachings through the services of Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha throughout Kerala.  His activities in this regard were not only confined to Kerala but also extended to other states of India and to foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, Singapore, Middle East Gulf countries and up to USA.  Swamiji had left the imprints of his personality over the social, educational, cultural and organizational spheres of our state.

Sree Narayana Dharama Paripalana Yogam (S.N.D.P), the chief organ for implementing Guru’s message “Organize you be strong”, founded by the Guru Himself is the mightiest social organization of Asia today.  This organization achieved spectacular progress in recent time under the dynamic leadership of Shri. Vellapalli Natesan.  Swamiji was the spiritual force behind this upward boost by bringing Shri. Vellapalli Natesan to the leadership and giving him moral strength and guidance.

As a spiritual leader he has proved his indomitable courage, ability and statesmanship.  The period of his Presidentship of the Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust witnessed several epoch making achievements.  In Kerala power politics, two main power blocs, the left and the right, the LDF and the UDF usually come to power in alternate terms.  Swamiji kept good relations with both the blocs whether in power or on the Opposition.  This policy yielded visible benefits to the Dharma Sanghom Trust.  One major achievement is the establishment of Viswa Samskara Bhavan.  Swamiji could persuade Shri.K. Karunakran, the then Chief Minister of Kerala to allot to Sivagiri Mut free of cost 50 cents of land in the heart of the Capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, within the compound of Kanakakunnu Palace, overlooking the Museum.  In this plot Swamiji constructed Viswa Samskara Bhavan and got it inaugurated by Shri. Venkataraman, President of India.  Several landed properties and prominent buildings owned by the Mut were lost hold of into the hands of some powerful magnates of the locality.  Swamiji reclaimed and re-annexed these properties to the Mut by legal action.  This alienated Swamiji to many influential local leaders.  They got infuriated and spread defamation against Swamiji among the public.

The inglorious Sivagiri police action of October 11, 1995 was during Swamiji’s regime as President.  Power was taken over by the rival group of Swamies on the strength of a court order implemented by police action.  During their period the Mut and its invaluable properties valuing crores were on the brink of slipping into the hands of religious fundamentalists dominated by semi-militant groups.  Sensing this dire threat to Sree Narayana Guru’s One Creed, One Religion, One God ideology, Swamiji, though not in power, persuaded the then Government of the Left Front with Shri.E.K. Nayanar as Chief Minister to take over the administration of Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust as per provisions of the Trust Scheme formulated by the Honorable High Court of Kerala.  The deteriorating law and order situation and misrule prevailing at that time in the Mut warranted and justified Government action.  An advisory Board consisting of Sanyasies. Leaders of S.N.D.P Yogam, S.N Trust and Honorable public was constituted for the interim administration of the Mut and prepare a voter’s list of eligible  Sanyasies as per rules laid down by the Honorable High Court.  By the approval of the High Court to this list a new governing body known as Trust Executive was elected from the Sanyasies to administer the Mut and various Muts and institutions under it.  Though Swamiji’s timely and untiring endeavor was the guiding force in bringing about this welcome conclusion, he did not involve himself in the governing body constituted by his effort.  Instead, he kept away from taking power in his hands, proving thereby that he was not greedy of power and position.

Swamiji was instrumental in bringing together all Guru Deva movements to work in mutual understanding and collaboration.  Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust and S.N.D.P Yogam had been moving as parallel streams since the Maha Samadhi of the Founder Guru.  Swamiji brought together these two Grand Sanghs to go in hand-in-hand co-operation and understanding.  For the administration of the Sree Narayana Colleges, Technical Institutions and Medical Mission etc a Trust was registered by the erstwhile prominent leader Shri.R. Sankar under the caption Sree Narayana Trust.  This Trust and S.N.D.P Yogam also moved in divergent courses since the demise of its founder leader Shri. R. Sankar.  At present Trust Secretary and S.N.D.P Yogam General Secretary is one and the same person.  In bringing about this unification also it was Swamiji’s hand that played a major role.  These are the three major organizations in the name of the Great Guru.  S.N Dharma Sanghom Trust, S.N.D.P Yogam and S.N. Trust are most powerful, holding immense power and opulence including manpower.

There are several other movements now active in the State in Guru Deva’s name.  Sree Narayana Vanitha Sangham and Sree Narayana Youth Movement are potential auxiliaries of S.N.D.P Yogam.  S.N Bala Yogam for kids and teenagers also is gathering momentum.  Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha plays a major role in popularizing Guru Deva’s spiritual teachings (darshans) for ennobling individual life and promoting good relations with love and respect for all.  Sree Narayana Samskarika (Cultural) Samithi of Government officials and Sree Narayana Study Center do present commendable service in the respective fields of activity.  Swamiji did his best in bringing together these organizations and co-coordinating their activities aimed at one goal – ennobling of life following the teachings of the Great Guru, by leading virtuous life.

Sree Narayana movements had been making rapid strides under the able leadership of Brahmasree Saswathikananda Swami and many more magnificent achievements were to be made under his dynamic leadership.  It was at this juncture that Swamiji’s precious life was terminated by Providence, inflicting severe blow and irrecoverable loss to Sree Narayana movements.  The noble example of his exemplary services to the community will ever be remembered.  May his soul rest in peace merging into the Supreme Universal Self – Adi Mahassu.