Siddharudha Swami
Virakta Siddharudha Swami (1837–1929)[1] is an Indian Hindu mystic of the Advaita Vedanta stream widely regarded as one of the greatest saints of Hinduism who lived a nomadic existence in the South West Indian state of Karnataka.
Biography
Sadguru Shri Siddharudha Maharaj lived in the style of an ascetic throughout his life. He never practiced casteism and saw divinity in everything that exists as well as disagreeing with the common notion that Brahmins were the only one's entitled to liberation, firmly believing that everyone was equally entitled for it. Considered to be a reincarnation of Shiva, one of the Trinity deities of Hinduism, Siddharudha renounced his home and all family ties at a very young age (6) and set himself out with a purpose to seek Satguru or spiritual master and later surrendered himself as a student to the then realized soul Shri Gajadandaswami and served at his Ashram.
By the end of this period, he was blessed by his Master and was asked to undertake a pilgrimage with a purpose to help the one's in need, uplift ignorance and reveal the right path to attain spiritual enlightenment to those seeking, He traveled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari delivering the right wisdom for spiritual awakening and methodical liberation to all those who were acknowledged of his exemplary standards of spiritual cognizance before setting down at Hubli. where, he was quickly bought into light for his spiritual knowledge & immaculate sainthood. people sought him over from neighbouring states for solace, satisfying desires and spiritual enlightenment.
He died at Hubballi and was entombed at his ashram. He was believed to be working miracles for his devotees. A proverb runs by in a native Indian Language kannada:
Siddharudhara Jolige Jagakkella holige
which signifies the food that is served at his ashram and the unimaginable miracles that occur of it.
Followers
- He served the people without any discrimination, having a Muslim disciple named Kabirdas (not his original name) who was known for his dedication to him.
- Parampoojya Shri Kalavati Devi (alias Aai meaning mother in Marathi), was his supreme disciple. Formerly known as Rukmabai Mallapur, she herself is well known as a supreme saint, whose samadhi is found at Shri Harimandir at Angol near Belgaum. He had a very dedicated disciple called Gurunatharudha. His samadhi is just beside the samadhi of Sri Siddharudha Swami in Hubli Matha.
- He gave sannyasa to Swami Muktananda, who studied at his ashram in Hubli until Siddharudha's 1929 death, he then left to study with a disciple of Siddharudha called Muppinarya Swami at his Airani Hale Matha.
Teachings
Siddharudha Maharaj is an acknowledged Hindu master of the Advaita Vedanta stream of Vedic thought and has many followers throughout India, especially in the villages of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
References
- ↑ Saints of India at the Wayback Machine (archived October 27, 2009)