Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994) also known as the Sage of Kanchi or Mahaperiyava (meaning, "The great elder") was the 68th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Mahaperiyava's discourses have been recorded in a Tamil book titled "Deivathin Kural" (Voice of God).

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Shri. Mahaperiyava fondly called as Jagadguru or Mahaswamigal has been greatly regarded and revered as a divine and living God form by millions of staunch devotees across the globe. Sharanalayam, connotes a shelter for devotees that is rendered and safeguarded  by Mahaperiyava with his immense grace and choicest blessings. 

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It has been proven time and again at Sharanalayam that everything in life happens by the will and grace of Sri MahaPeriyava. 

“Maha Periyava is none other than Lord Maha Dev. His very presence, feel and existence all aim to lead the world in the path of dharma just, like how Lord Ram did during the Tretha Yug. 

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He is a divine sage, he has shed his mortal coils, he is no longer bound by anything; he is omnipresent and revered as God. He is Sadha Sivam –eternal bliss, yet mingled with us mere mortals and a Savagnyan.  He knows our past, the present and the future. 

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Shri. Mahaperiyava gets everything done through devotees and now his family has become very large. His responsibility has increased multi-fold as he has to take care of all of us. We all as a part of Sharanalayam are truly blessed to be amidst Periyavas temple, the paathshaala, which are close to his heart. Mahaperiyava always blesses us all immensely. We need to simply surrender to him and take a vow to walk on the path of dharma. Rest he shall guide throughout your life.

 

Early life
Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal (born Swaminathan Sharma) was born on 20 May 1894. He was brought up in the central part of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Villupuram, South Arcot District. His father was Subrahmanya Sastri, who was from a Kannada speaking Smarta Brahmin family that had migrated to Tamil Nadu generations earlier. Subrahmanya Sastri worked as a teacher having entered the educational service. His mother Mahalakshmi was also from a Kannada Brahmin family from the village of Eachangudi near Tiruvaiyaru. Swaminathan was the second child of his parents.

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Swaminathan's upanayanam was performed in Tindivanam in 1905 and it was during his upbringing that he became well versed in the Vedas and started performing pujas. In 1906 the Sixty-sixth Acharya of Kamakoti Pitha, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI, was camping in Perumukkal, a small village near Tindivanam in observance of the Chaturmasya vrata. The 66th Acharya attained siddhi and passed at Kalavai and Swaminathan's maternal cousin was installed as the 67th Acharya. The 67th Acharya had a fever and due to the unexpected turn of events, Swaminathan was installed as the Acharya. Swaminathan ascended the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham on Paraabhava Tamil Year Maasi Tamil Month Moolam Star In the year 1907 as the 68th Acharya with the Sannyasa name Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.

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As per the usual training given to the seers, he was well trained with the Vedas, puranas, various Hindu texts and ancient Indian literature. The Acharya was fifteen years old in 1909. For two years he studied under the pandits of the Matha at Kumbakonam. From 1911 to 1914 he studied in Mahendramangalam, a tiny village on the Northern bank of Akhanda Kaveri. The Acharya showed interest in subjects such as photography, mathematics and astronomy. He returned to Kumbakonam in 1914. The Matha (or mutt) was managed by the Court of Wards from 1911–1915 until he turned twenty-one in May 1915.

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I had a bath at the Kumara Koshta Thirtha. A carriage of the Mutt had come there from Kalavai with the people to buy articles for the Maha Puja on the tenth day of the passing of the previous 66th Acharya. One of them, a hereditary maistry (mason) of the Mutt, asked me to accompany him. A separate cart was engaged for the rest of the family to follow me. During the journey the maistry hinted to me that I might not return home and that the rest of my life might be spent in the Mutt itself. At first I thought that my elder cousin having become the Head of the Mutt, it was his wish that I should live with him. But the maistry gradually clarified matters as the cart rolled on. The Acharya had fever which developed into delirium and that was why I was being separated from the family to be taken to Kalavai… I was stunned by this unexpected turn of events. I lay in a kneeling posture in the cart, shocked as I was, repeating “Rama… Rama,” the only prayer I knew. My mother and other children came some time later only to find that instead of her mission of consoling her sister, she herself was placed in the state of having to be consoled. — Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal.

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Kamakshi Amman temple
Mahaperiyava started spreading his knowledge in spiritual journeys across the Indian hinterland. These included devotional practices and daily rituals such as performing various pujas and recitations of the Vedas. Iyengars (who were not part of the mutt), various sub castes and Abrahamic followers became his devotees. He carried the responsibility effortlessly and made simple practices for devotees to increase devotion, like chanting and writing the holy name of Rama. Devotees soon realized he was not a normal person and labelled him a Jagadguru (lit. the guru of the universe) for his help in rectifying their issues. Mahaperiyava dedicated his life to the deity Kamakshi in the premises where he was the spiritual head, Kamakshi Amman temple. The temple is where the goddess herself came personally for devotion to Shiva.

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Throughout his life, Mahaperiyava practiced the Advaita philosophy of his guru, Adi Shankaracharya, the great Hindu philosopher and reformist. Mahaperiyava renovated multiple temples across India and increased the recitals of sacred texts like the Vishnu Sahasranāma (which was not allowed by women at the time). Mahaperiyava helped Vedic priests on their pronunciation of the holy Sanskrit texts and implemented rigorous Agama Sastra teachings describing cosmology, epistemology, philosophical doctrines, precepts on meditation and other topics. He made radical social changes by allowing devotees inside the temple premises. The day India became independent, he gave a speech on the significance of the flag and the Dharma chakra in it.

 

He passed away without celebrating his centenary on 8 January 1994. His attainment of Videhamukti invited devotees to go beyond numerology and believe only the name of god in their lifespan.

 

Discourses

Example of a palanquin
As a religious head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham obliged to spiritual duties, Mahaperiyava travelled across the country on a palanquin and started giving discourses. On several occasions he addressed the common masses on diverse aspects of dharma, ancient culture, and a variety of subjects. He delivered the discourses on simple verandahs, river beds and sabhas (smaller halls) unlike in the 21st century. The discourses "Deivathin Kural" (The Voice of God) were compiled by his disciple R.Ganapathi and published in English and Tamil as. It has been also translated to other Indian languages. Discourses were related to various subjects across different topics, which are well researched and well advised. His discourses were important for his devotees and others across India suffering from lack of devotion. He brought back the ancient practice of sanatana dharma, travelling throughout the country offering guidance, founding schools and providing for the people.