The Life Journey of Śrīmat P. P. Vāsudevānandasarasvatī Svāmimahārāja: From 1906 to 1909.

Svāmimahārāja observed the Cāturmāsa of 1906 at Badhwai, where people began visiting him in large numbers. During his stay, he taught Vedant Kesari, Panchikarana, Mandukya Upanishad, and other texts. His daily routine remained as rigorous as ever. After concluding the Cāturmāsa, he traveled to Wadi, where the local people eagerly gathered around him.

At Wadi, Svāmimahārāja taught Sanyasadharma to Dixit Swami. He also taught commentaries on the Gita, Upanishads, Brahmasutravrutti, and Jivanmuktivivek. In the evenings, he taught Krishnalahari and Shatashloki. During his stay, many people visited Wadi seeking solutions to their problems. The ruler of the princely state of Kurundwad, Balasaheb Pawaradhan, visited Wadi daily to take darshana of Svāmimahārāja.

One day, Narayanshastri Eksambekar, a virtuous and scholarly figure, visited Wadi. Observing Svāmimahārāja’s daily routine, he questioned why Svāmimahārāja was giving mantras and guidance to people despite being a Sanyasi. Svāmimahārāja responded by asking why Narayanshastri himself had not taken Sanyasa, to which Narayanshastri replied that it was his fate. Svāmimahārāja promptly responded that just as Narayanshastri had his fate, others had theirs too. A prostitute named Saraswatibai had renounced her previous life and was staying at Wadi. Observing her deep devotion, Svāmimahārāja instructed her to chant a specific stotra and guided her in a few meditation techniques.

Two months passed, and Datta Maharaj ordered Svāmimahārāja to travel to Rameshwaram. He left Wadi and journeyed to Kurundwad, where he visited the royal palace of Patwardhan. This visit was exceptional, as despite traveling through many princely states, he rarely visited royal palaces. However, the devotion of Balasaheb Pawardhan compelled him to accept the invitation. Upon leaving the palace, he advised Balasaheb to protect cows and Brahmins as part of Rajdharma. Continuing his travels, he reached Sadlage via Terwad. At Sadlage, during a nighttime bhajan, an abhang of Sant Tukaram Maharaj was played. While listening, Svāmimahārāja entered a state of Samadhi for three hours. Afterward, he remarked that one could witness the greatness of Tukaram Sadhu through his abhangas.

During his journey to Rameshwaram, Svāmimahārāja reached Kengeri, a place renowned for Chidambar Dixit. There, Svāmimahārāja composed a Prakrit and Sanskrit stotra dedicated to Chidambar Dixit. He then traveled to Gurlhosur, home to a matha associated with Chidambar Dixit. At this location, Kaivalyashrama, a revered Swami, was residing. At his insistence, Svāmimahārāja stayed there for eight to ten days. Subsequently, he journeyed to Hampi, where he stayed at the matha of Shri Vidyaranya Swami. From Hampi, he visited the Pumpa Lake, Kishkindha, and Sheshachal Mountain. At Sheshachal, he composed a stotra dedicated to Kartik Swami and authored Kumarshiksha.

He traveled to Shrirangam, Shri Shailam, and then reached Chidambaram. At Chidambar, one Shastri named Sundarshastri, had an excessive pride in Sanskrit. Svāmimahārāja advised him that, saying, ‘Excessive pride in the Shastras hinders the awakening of Bhakti. Without Bhakti, the grace of Ishwar cannot be attained. To receive Dattakrupa, begin reading the Gurucharitra. Avoid wasting time.’

During his stay at Chidambaram, a rumor spread that Svāmimahārāja had attained Samadhi. Concerned, the people of Wadi set out toward Rameshwaram to verify the truth. Svāmimahārāja met them in Mayavaram and reassured them, saying not to believe such rumors, as he would announce the place before attaining Samadhi.

From there, he traveled to Rameshwaram via Tanjore, Shwetaranya, Kumbakonam, and Madurai. After completing his visit to Rameshwaram, he returned to Tanjore, where he observed the Cāturmāsa of 1907.

At Tanjore, Svāmimahārāja completed the Churnika on Samshloki Gurucharitra and wrote a Sanskrit commentary on Krishnalahari. After concluding the Cāturmāsa, he traveled to Satyamangal, Jambukeshwar, Kotiling, and eventually reached Srirangam. At the same time, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri was also in Srirangam. Svāmimahārāja met him and bowed before him. Shankaracharya said that his long-standing wish to meet Svāmimahārāja had been fulfilled by Ishwara. Svāmimahārāja praised the Shankaracharya and Sharadamba. In return, the Shankaracharya composed a stotra in praise of Svāmimahārāja.

After the Bhiksha, Shankaracharya said the following about Svāmimahārāja to his disciples:

“You have not recognized this great Sanyasi. Therefore, I will say a few words about him. He is an incarnation of Dattaprabhu, born due to the immense Punya of his parents. Like Adi Shankaracharya, he is dedicated to the establishment of dharma. He strictly adheres to the Varnashrama dharma and has liberated many people. He has traveled barefoot from the Himalayas to Rameshwaram, preaching Karma, Upasana, and Dnyana to the deserving and guiding them toward fulfillment. Thus, I pray to Ishwara that he may live long and continue his work in establishing dharma.”

Svāmimahārāja humbly responded that he was not worthy of the praise bestowed upon him by Shankaracharya. People present bowed before both sages.

The Sringeri Shankaracharya requested books written by Svāmimahārāja. However, as Svāmimahārāja was not carrying any books at the time, he composed the Mantragarbha Stotra. Shankaracharya was extremely pleased and asked for the books to be sent later. Accordingly, books like Dattamahatmya were sent afterwards. Svāmimahārāja also composed a stotra and asked Brahmananda Saraswati to recite it in front of Shankaracharya.

Svāmimahārāja then sought Shankaracharya’s permission and continued his journey to Nellore. There, he composed a stotra dedicated to Sadashiv Bramhendra. Afterward, he left Nellore and traveled to Muktishwarpur, where he observed the Cāturmāsa of 1908.

The Brahmins in Muktishwarpur were extremely virtuous and wise, which greatly pleased Svāmimahārāja. Many Brahmins, including women, were proficient in Sanskrit. During his stay, he wrote Yuvashiksha, Vruddhashiksha, and Strishiksha. After concluding the Cāturmāsa, he traveled to Saptgodavari. Although Datta Maharaj ordered him to travel to Kashmir, he declined.

Svāmimahārāja then traveled to Pithapur, the birthplace of Sripada Srivallabha. There, he identified the birthplace of Sripada Srivallabha and established the Paduka. Next, he traveled to Kakinada, where the people of Wadi met him. They had been searching for him. Svāmimahārāja reprimanded them about their duties and instructed them to follow virtuous conduct.

The next stop was Rajmahendry. Brahmananda Saraswati requested him to establish a Datta temple. He complied, and the Trimukhi Dattamandir and Datta Paduka were established. This marked the first instance of him establishing a Trimukhi Datta. In the same year, his Guru in Sanyasa, Narayanswami, left his body. Upon hearing the news, he performed the appropriate rituals.

Continuing his travels, he reached Pavni. In the next article, we will explore his life beyond this period.

Reference: Brahmashri Dattamaharaj Kavishwar. (2020). Shri Gurudev Charitra (13th ed.). Shri Vasudev Niwas. (Original work in Marathi).