Sage of Kanchi – Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati – Maha Periyava
Popularly known as Paramacharya, Mahaswami and Maha Periyavaal, the 68th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, was indeed God who treaded on this earth. He was sage who lived by every word of the Vedas. He was immensely popular amongst his devotees due to his teachings & miracles and is widely regarded as one of the greatest sages who walked the earth. His devotees considered him as lord Shiva himself. His popularity has been growing till date although he has shed his mortal remains. People all across the world celebrate his birth star Anusham, build temples for him, conserve Veda patadhalas and Goshalas as a means to propitiate him and get his blessings.
Life of Maha Periyava
- He was born as Swaminathan Sharma on 20 May 1894 to Subrahmanya Sastri and Mahalakshmi in Villupuram, Tamilnadu.
- The boy’s Upanayanam was performed in Tindivanam in 1905.
- When he was of 13 years of age, he was given Sannyasa and was made the 68th acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
- He took up multiple tours across the country and showered his grace far and wide.
- He shed his mortal remains in 1994, during his 100th year on the face of earth. His successor is Sri Jayendra Saraswati acharya who went on to serve as till 2018 as the 69th pontiff of the Kamakoti peetam.
Key Teachings of Maha Periyava
- Advaita Vedanta
- Bhakti and Jnana
- Dharma
- Veda Samrakshanam – protection of vedas
- Go Samrakshanam – protection of cows
Books on Mahaperiyava
- Deivathin Kural (Tamil) – Compilation of Mahaperiyava’s own words on various topics by Ra. Ganapathy [“Hindu Dharma” is the name of English translation of two volumes of Devathin Kural that can be read online at the Kamakoti Mutt website.]
- Maha Periyava (Tamil) – Multi volume book series by Sri. P Swaminathan
Videos on Mahaperiyava
- Documentary on Kanchi Maha Periyava
- Discourse on Mahaperiyava by Sri Govindapuram Balaji Bhagavathar
- Mahaperiyava Saptaham by Sri Ganesa Sarma
- Experience with Mahaperiyava – MS Subbalakshmi
- Musical discourse on Mahaperiyava by Smt. Vishaka Hari
Mahaperiyava Miracles
- Paramacharya and miracles
- Showers of Miracles in my Life by Maha Periyava 1 – Shri Gayathri Rajagopal
- Experiences with Mahaperiyava
- Experiences with Shree Mahaperiyava (Audio)
- Discourse on Mahaperiyava’s miracles by Sri. Ganesa Sarma
Mahaperiyava Images
Here is a digital library of HD photos of Mahaperiyava compiled by Sri. Mahesh Krishnamoorthy.
Maha Periyava Song/Bhajan
Here is a song written by Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal on Maha Periyava.
The Cowherd 