EKAM NITYAM VIMALAM ACHILAM SARVADHI SAKSHIBUTHAM

BHAVATEETAM TRIGUNARAHITAM SADGURUM NAMAMI

I pray to Lord Ganesh, who residing in Mooladhara (region of areas) bestow wisdom and perfection in achievement, bless me with energy and acumen to complete the writing of this book without any hindrance. My hearty Namaskarams to Goddess Saraswati, holding Veena in one hand and the book in the other hand, with supplication to preside over my writing, day and night and make me speak out noble words. With respect and humble submission I prostrate to my father Brahma Sri Gurrappadiya Anjaneyulu garu and my mother Smt. Varalakshmamma garu, the gem among pativratas, who were responsible for my very birth. My hearty pranamas to all the enlightened souls of Datta Guru Parampara, I bow in reverence to the lotus feet of Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Sadguru Maharaj, the protector of all devotees, who accompanied me even unto this life. With humble Namaskarams to all Yogis, Siddha Purushas, to all human beings, I commence writing this biography of Sri Viswaguru.

AVADHUTA CHINTANA SRI GURUDEVADATTA

OHM! NAMO VISWA DATTAYA

OHM! SRI SAIRAM GURUDEVA DATTA

From time immemorial, India is famous as the land of Yogies. The objective of all Yogies is protection of Sanatana Dharma only. Sanatana Dharma means Veda Dharma. Whatever that existed before the birth of all religions, as the basis of peaceful co-existence for all human beings, that pattern of life is being called as Sanatana Dharma or Veda Dharma. It is not confined either, to any place or any religion. It is concerned to the total human race, to welfare of humanity and to the unity of all human beings. There is no religion in India only Sanatana Dharma existed. The word Hindu is not connected to religion. It is connected to the country. Sanatana Dharma is ingrained in the heart of every individual born in that land. It is said “Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahuda Vadanti (The truth is one, the learned speak about it in different ways). With that point of view, the followers of Sanatana Dharma agree that different religions speak about the same truth. They go to Church, Mosque, to the prayer halls of Zoroastrians bow down on legs, offer prayers and worship. This kind of ethical socialism taught them Yoga. Yogies gave precedence to silent prayer over that of external worship. That does not mean that they prohibited external worship, but shall be the graded basis for silent prayers. They meditate on the self, become one with it, and revel in the Ananda of the self which is its nature. One cannot understand spiritual India without Adhyayanam of the biographies of Yogies. Adhyayanam does not mean reading those biographies for time pass. To understand their exhortations, know the path shown by them, assimilate and emulate them and experience them in daily life is Adhyayanam. Ordinary people think, the more miracles a yogi exhibits, the greater is his stature. It may be a partial truth but not the whole. All Yogis can exhibit miracles. But to measure their capabilities by that scale, and thus estimate their powers is demeaning. There is one method to understand those Yogis who identified themselves with the soul. To know, for what purpose they are exhibiting those miracles and consequently what ideals they will, to establish for peace and happiness of the society is important. We must completely understand the methodology the yogi tells us to adopt for reaching the goal of life. Even after they shed their mortal frames, the precepts and practices of Yogis will last forever as beacon light to guide the people to the supreme goal of life.

There is no difference between God and those who mastered Yoga. Dattatreya the originator of Yoga manifested as far back as 170 crore years in the first tretayuga during the period of Swayambhu, the first Manu. To promote Sanatana Dharma and to preach Gyana is the duty of Datta. Whenever Dharma is at its lowest ebb, whenever there is confrontation among religions, that power will incarnate in one of the forms like Yati, Yogi or Avadhuta. They shower love on them propagate the principle of unity in diversity, promote religious tolerance and preach peaceful coexistence. For such purpose only great souls like Sri Manikya Prabhu, Sri Akkalkot Maharaj, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Sridhara Swami Maharaj, Sri Dattatreya Wadekar had taken up the position of Guru and rendered yeoman service for the welfare of all humanity, by promoting Sanatana Dharma. As part of that grand divine play, Sri Viswayogi took birth at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, India. He is Viswa Datta. He is Viswaguru avowed for the promotion of unity among all human beings. For the seekers “Ohm! Sri Sairam Gurudeva Datta” has become the kalpa vriksha (the celestial tree that fulfills all wishes), for the needy his presence is a mine of riches.

The ancestors of Viswayogi originally belong to Gurrapadi village in Kandukur Taluk in Nellore district. So they acquired the Sir Name of Gurrapadia. Sri Viswayogi too was born in Vajasaneya (Yagyavalkya) sakha to which Sri Narasimha Saraswati, the second incarnation of Dattatreya also belongs. They belong to Kanva Sakha of Krishna Yazurveda, Katsayana sutra, Sri Vatsa Gotra, Sri Gurrapadia Seetaaramaiah the great grandfather of Viswamjee, was an adopt in dealing with the mundane affairs and transactions. He mastered all puranas. His wife Seshamma was an ideal housewife. He worked as a farmer in his village and as “Telugu Vakil” in the court at Kandukuru. He was very popular and respectfully titled as “Dharma Raju”.

They had a daughter by name Seetamma and a son by name Narasimham. Seetaramiah died when Narasimham hardly completed 4 years. The mother left Gurrapadia for Pelluru, her birthplace along with the children.

Seshamma was born in the Pelluru family. She had two brothers by name Venkatappiah and Ramadas. She gave her daughter Seetamma in marriage to Venkatappiah. Later they migrated to Mutturu to eche out their livelihood. Venkatappaiah was a well-educated person and known for his exposition of Puranas. He established an elementary school on the lines of Gurukula Ashram and won the approbation of all. He made the children get up early well before sunrise and made them get by heart poems in Bala Gajendra Moksham etc. His brother Ramadas befitting his name, was an Anjaneya Upasaka. He was a life long bachelor. While Ramadas with broad Vaishnava marks on his forehead, with sound beads round about his ankles, with Chitralu in his hands, sang melodiously in high pitched tone the Keertans of Adhyatma Ramayanam and Bhakta Ramdas, with gesticulations of hands and feet, dancing in tune with the musical accompaniment provided by Sri Ventakatappiah, a maestro in Mrudangam, it was a treat for the ears and eyes for all villagers and they lost themselves in enjoyment. Ramadas had his own clan of Bhaktas, like Mangalagiri Balamba, Kurmadoss, Appadoss etc., who were frequent visitors to his house. Both Seetamma and Narasimham had their early education from the pandit and pauranic Sri Venkatappiah and acquired the qualities of devotion from Ramadas from an early age.

Ramadas was noted for his mastery of the science of Mantras. “Oh! Needling with him means bidding goodbye to one’s life!” – was the talk of the village. Everyone was afraid of him. Whenever he was passing through the streets, people stood up in reverence. It so happened that on a particular day the crop in the land he took for lease was cut, bundled and stacked in a heap. On that same night some robbers took away some bundles from the heap. Coming to know that the heap belonged to Sri Ramadas, they were afraid and consequently they returned the bundles by daybreak to Ramadas, who at that time was lying on a cot in his courtyard and amusing himself with the keertanas of Ramadas. Prostrating before him and weeping, they said “Swami! Protect us, protect us! Not knowing that the heap belongs to you we committed a great blunder. Please excuse us”. He got up from his cot and stared at them and said “you stupids! why do you weep like females. Get up for livelihood, you may do some work or other – that is all. Why these stupid thoughts to you? Let bygones be bygones. Never do it any more. Look here! You take these bundles and go away”. Thus saying he gave them back all those bundles and sent them away.

He commanded great respect and faith from the villagers for the reason that whenever an ailment occurred to them, they ran to him. All their troubles would disappear as if they were removed by hand as soon as he gave them an emblem of Anjaneya or Raksharekulu or Tayathulu etc. Under the protective care of Ramadas, the great devotee, Sri Venkatappiah the treasure house of knowledge, and Narasimham lead a disciplined life, acquired wisdom at a young age to the approbation of all.

Thread ceremony was performed to Narasimham at his eight year by Sri Venkatappaiah. The articles - deer skin with horns, the copper utensils used for that purpose, Harate doli, and the brass container, which were presented to his nephew on that occasion were there in the house till recently in memory of Sri Venkatappaiah.

Narasimham’s hand writing was very beautiful. All the villagers got their writing work done by him. He acquired good knowledge of the puranas by virtue of his training under Sri Venkatappiah. In his absence, he played the roll of the teacher in the school. Narasimham was personification of morality and integrity. He was a much sought after personality by the villagers for their guidance. Due to the sudden demise of Sri Venkatappiah the burden of protecting the family fell on the shoulders of young Narasimham. With undaunted spirit and unique acumen, with the help of his adept mother Seshamma and with the tacit support of his uncle Ramadas he looked after the family well.

His intelligence, goodness, ability to deal with intricate problems and affairs had earned him a good name not only in his village but also in the neighboring villages. There were relationships and connections between Vysyas of Chavallamudi and Mutlur. Sri Polisetti Bapanaih and his brother Venkatratnam of Mutlur heard much about Sri Narasimham’s popularity. They were instrumental in shifting the family of Narasimham to Chavallamudi village. Sri Bapanaiah not only gave him employment as clerk in his shop but also encouraged him to start an elementary school in that village. Thus Narasimham and his family settled at Chavallamudi.

On account of the devotion and piety of Ramadas, all the people in Chavallamudi had an endearing regard for him. Even though he was young, Narasimham conducted the school on ideal lines, dealing the affairs in a perfect way with morality and integrity. So all the villagers approached him for help in their day to day transactions both verbal and written. They kept their money and valuables with him for safe custody. His mother Seshamma and his sister Seetamma, kept those vessels along with details and buried them under ground. Whenever the owners required them, they returned them with meticulous care to the concerned persons.

From the very beginning Narasimham’s family was noted for their devotion. Regularly Bhajans were conducted every day in the evening. On every Saturday Bala Dasa worship would take place in their house. Five boys in the age group of five would be selected. Treating the boys as the forms of Lord Venkateswara giving them head bath early in the morning smearing their feet with turmeric and lime and their bodies with sandalwood paste, garlanding them and putting Vaishnava marks on their foreheads, giving harati were all part of that worship. At the end of the worship they were served with lime rice, pongal, curd rice and appalu (some sweet specialties), tamboolam along with dakshina. This is short, is Baladasa puja, a worship similar to kumari puja or suvasini puja. This pure tradition was kept up even during the entire life period of Sri Anjaneyulu, the father of Sri Viswamjee The whole program was being conducted under the able supervision of Seetamma the aunt of Sri Anjaneyulu.

The villagers were much attracted by Narasimham’s stories. Witnessing the trouble the young Narasimham was under going to maintain the family, all the villagers out of regard and consideration and as their well wishers, supplied the day to day requirements to the family. When Narasimham came of age Sri Polisetti Bapanaiah, his brother Venkataramaiah, the village munsiff Sri Radhakonda Suryanarayana, along with some more elders of the village, met and unanimously decided to get Narasimham married, and accordingly went to the house of Narasimham to convey the message.

Sri Venkata Somayaji with a smiling face said to Seshamma “Amma Seshamma! When do you perform the marriage to my nephew Narasimham? Do you give us marriage dinner in the near future or not.” Then she said “Dear brother, there is one cousin of mine by name Pelluri Seetayya at Yerazerla. His daughter Seetarammama is a befitting bride for our boy. They too have agreed to give her in marriage to Narasimham. Now that you all are here, let the marriage take place whenever you desire it”. “Alright sister, we will have it celebrated on out own. Don’t worry. But tell me how much do you want me to contribute?” asked Somayaji in a jocular tone. Seshamma replied “Brother, it is enough if your goodwill is there on us. I am a lady, why should I bother about money matters. It is up to you to perform the marriage of your nephew in the way you like.” Somayaji stared at her then beating his chest he said “Amma! Seshamma! How I under estimated you all the while! You are really a worthy sister to me! I thought that you would ask me to give some specific donation and I could do that with ease, along with the others. But you are clever! You placed the entire burden on my shoulders!” Saying so he laughed heartily. All shared the laughter. Soon all the villagers contributed their mite and performed the marriage of Narasimham on a grand scale. A gala village dinner was given on that occasion. The villagers gloating about it as “pantulugaru pappannam”(about the dinner), the memory of it was a joy for a long time.

Seetarammama, the wife of Narasimham was a lady of fine character. That good housewife when she was moving to and fro in the house with turmeric paste on her face, with a rupee size kumkum mark on her forehead, looked like Goddess Lakshmi. Villagers thought no one is so beautiful as her in the whole village. She is like Mahalakshmi (Vernacular pronunciation of Mahalakshmi - Pantulu garu is a very fortunate man). She served both Atidhi and Abhyagati (the invited and uninvited guests) and behaved with humility and obedience. Very soon she earned the good name that she was a worthy wife to Sri Narasimham pantulu.

From the day Narasimham joined as a clerk, Polisetti Bapanaiah’s fortune started ascending. His business grew by leaps and bounds. Witnessing it the people thought that Narasimham’s hand is an auspicious one and so naturally they entrusted all their work of writing documents etc., to him, paying whatever little they could afford.

Narasimham lived in a Kamma’s house in the East street of Chavallamudi. He conducted the school with the cooperation of his uncle Ramadas. During leisure hours he helped the villagers in their accounts. Now and then he exhorted them on puranas. His sister Seetamma would be reading the songs from Kusalava Charitra, Krishnudu Chaddulu, Pandu Pata, Melukolupulu, Sant Govinda Namalu etc., for the benefit of the ladies of the village. Some songs like Venkateswara Kandandhalu which could recite with ease she sang them in melodious tone, to the joy of everybody. She was a good storyteller and knew a good number of them. All the children were pinned to their seats as long as she was telling such stories. Whenever Vidyasagar Sarma in his childhood, refused to take food, she would make him take food by telling interesting stories. Some times she would make him lie down in his bed and listen to her songs. She was alive till Masterji attained ninth year. Thinking that Masterji was a fatherless child, with utmost affection she made him sit before her and taught him several songs and poems. Even though she was not a literate she learnt many things from her husband as well as from her uncle Ramadas. She was, wise, personification of patience, a great devotee and a guiding personality to all. They affectionately called her as “Seetamma Akkayya”. It was to the credit of her motherly care that Sri Anjaneyulu and his brother Satyanarayana were tended and brought up by her without making them feel in the least the want of the presence of their parents. It may be said that songs she sang and stories she told were to a large extent caused Vidyasagar Sarma to evince interest and develop taste for literature, at a young age. After Sri Anjaneyulu left the mortal body Varalakshmamma lost all interest in the world and did not take proper care of the four-month-old child- Masterji. Seetamma played the role of the mother and nourished Sri Viswamjee The village deity “Addankamma Talli” would appear before her and converse with her. On every Thursday and Sunday she would worship “Addankamma Talli” by making a mark on the wall and offering Chaddi to the deity. She came to Guntur to the house where Vidyasagar Sarma was residing as a tenant in Ananda Teertha Agraharam and lived there till she breathed her last in 1953.

Sri Narasimham’s married life was going on smoothly. His wife Seetaramamma gave birth to a male child in the month of Margasira in the year Plavanga. On the suggestion of his uncle Ramadas, who was a devotee of Anjaneya, the child was named as Anjaneyulu. He was the father of Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee of today. Sri Anjaneyulu was a staunch devotee of Datta. The story goes that Sri Anjaneyulu in his previous birth lived for some time in Gangapur, a famous Datta pilgrimage center on the borders of Karnataka and Maharastra. There he performed pooja to the Padukas of Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami, did Parayana of Datta Charitra followed by perambulations to the Audambara tree everyday. Pleased with his penance lord Dattatreya gave a boon to him to the effect that he himself would be born as a child to him in his next life. As proof of it lord Dattatreya initiated him to Datta Mantra in this life. This was narrated to Sri Vidyasagar Sarma by his guru Sri Dattatreya Wadekar. On the basis of cause and effect also, one would confirm that narration. We will be knowing this in detail in the next chapter. By virtue of the blessings of Lord Datta in the previous life itself, just like the famous Pothana (the author of Telugu version of Bhagavatam one of the great scriptures). Sri Anjaneyulu became an erudite scholar without much effort and without being a disciple to any Guru at an early age in this life. He later became a great poet, did great penance and become a realised soul within a short span.

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