Atmavidyavilasa.

 Today is the Aradhana of Sri Sadashiva Brahmendraru (Vaishakha shukla Dashami) a composer of Carnatic music, great Advaita philosopher, an Avadhoota Brahmagnani, who lived near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, in the 18th century.

Sringeri Jagadgurus  and Atmavidyavilasa

Sadashiva Brahmendra and his classic work Atmavidya vilasa wielded an enormous influence on the life and Sadhana of the Sringeri Jagadgurus.

It was the 32nd Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetam, Sri vruddha Narasimha Bharathi VIII (1817-1879) who first recognized the greatness of Sadashiva Brahmendra and arranged for the upkeep and maintenance of his Samadhi.

His successor Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrsimha Bharathi (1879-1912) made a seminal visit to the samadhi of the saint at Nerur. 

He became an ardent admirer and devotee of Sadashiva Brahmendra in whose praise he composed two poetic works, Sadashivendra Stava and Sadashivendra Panchrathna stotram.

He considered Sadashiva Brahmendra his ideal, tried to emulate his principles. He modeled his attitude, his ideals and his way of living in the light of Atmavidyavilasa. 

He gradually withdrew from the active administration of the Mutt starting from the year 1901and devoted increasingly to spiritual practices. Listening to Atmavidyavilasa and contemplating on it became a part of his daily spiritual exercise. 

Before His videhamukti, He lived like an Avadhuta. He instructed his disciples that in the last moments of his life while he would be drawing his last breaths they should recite aloud the verses from the Atmavidyavilasa. He wished to discard his body with those verses ringing in his ears. Such was his devotion to that text.

One who fully emulated Sadashiva Brahmendra and evolved into an Avadhuta was the 34th Jagadguru  Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamin.

He studied Atmavidyavilasa intensely, imbibed its principles and truly lived according to that in word and deed.

Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati mahaswami was the living epitome of the Atmavidyavilasa.  He was an Avadhuta, a liberated soul, one who “passed away from” or “shaken off” all worldly attachments and cares, and has realized his identity with Self. He was an enlightened being who lived in a state beyond body-consciousness.

All the later Jagadgurus of Sringeri have revered Sri Brahmendra, they all have visited His Samadhi &  paid their homage to Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra.

#srishankaracharya #dakshinamnaya #SringeriSharadaPeetham #sadashivabrahmendra #nerur #Avadhoota 

Excerpts from : https://sreenivasaraos.com/2012/09/01/sadashiva-brahmendra-the-avadhuta/