About Mahaperiyava
Holy Birth:
When Sri Subramania Sastrigal was working as the Inspector of Schools at Villupuram, Maha Periyava was born there as his second son at 19 Nazhigai of the morning on the auspicious star Anusham day of Salivahana Era 1817, Jaya Varusham, Vaikasi month Sunday the 8th day (20-May-1894). As the first son was named as Ganapathi, our Swamigal was named as Swaminathan, the sacred name of Lord Muruga (Subramanya).
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Pitaarohanam
(Ascending to Seat of Head of Mutt):
Maha Periyava was duly given the Ashram in Paraabhava year, Maasi month 2nd day, the Wednesday (13-Feb-1907). At that time, He was just thirteen years of age. Since then, He occupied as the 68th Pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, installed by Adi Sankara Bhagavathpada, till He attained siddhi on Saturday the 8th January, 1994. As a living God, He bestowed His blessings to the entire world. He assumed His name as Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati', which was the name of His revered Guru 'SriChandrasekarendra Saraswati'
Even God Received Education:
We learn from our Puranas that Lord Krishna himself did his Gurukulam life along with Kuchela and other co-disciples at the hermitage of Sage Saandeepany. Even so, our Maha Periyava too received education. He was outstanding in various types of education and shone like a jewel and unequalled by any, at the helm of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
During the two years of 1909 and 1910, Mutt's scholars and teachers at Kumbakonam imparted training in Sanskrit, Kavyas and Drama and also taught Veda to Maha Periyava. The Pundits wondered greatly over the knowledge of Maha Periyava in a short period itself. During that time, many devotees and disciples were arriving daily to have darshan of Maha Periyava. Due to that, Maha Periyava's classes got interrupted at Kumbakonam. It became necessary to fix up a secluded location especially for the purpose of His studies. Situated at the northern bank of the Aganda Cauvery and at a distance of five miles west of Musiri, the village Mahendramangalam, possessing natural environments, was chosen for this purpose by the Mutt. In that village, the last Nayak ruler of Madurai, King Vijayaranga Sokkanantha Nayakar had donated land in the year 1706 AD to the Mutt for creating a Trust for offering food (annadanam).
Mahendramangalam, a small village, is located about 2 km from Thottiyam, a Taluk in Trichy District. In those days, there was not much transport facility existed. One had to alight at Lalapet Railway Station at the southern bank of Cauvery and to cross the one mile wide river by means of a coracle to reach that village. Only a very few people, unmindful of all those difficulties would come for darshan of Swamigal. Hence that place would be ideal for His studies. Pooja and Mutt administrative works began to be conducted at the Agraharam. But, for the sake of seclusion for Swamigal, a small hermitage was built very close to the Cauvery river bed. Maha Periyava used to stay during night time at the first floor of Kuvalakudi Singam Iyengar Trust (KST) Building in Agraharam.
Maha Periyava started His journey to Mahendramangalam in the year 1911. The method of His education at Mahendramangalam was distinctively of a special kind. Usually, the learners would treat the scholars who taught them as their mentors and would reverentially worship them. But in case of Maha Periyava, the Scholars would treat Him as Preceptor and would offer their salutations both before and after the classes.
Mahaperiyava was very much interested in swimming and photography and used to swim the breadth of Aganda Cauvery every day before his anushtaanam. There is a famous story which happened at Mahendramangalam about Periyava's learning process. One day the learned ganapatigals told Periyava that he was too playful and did not listen to the paadam properly and if this was going to continue, they all would leave Mahendramangalam. Periyava replied that which paadam they are referring to and to their dismay and astonishment recited all that was taught last few days. The Ganapatigal knowing the mistake fell at His feet and asked for His pardon.
In Mahendramangalam, He learnt Vyakaranam (Grammar), Tharkam (Logic) and Vedanta. Then He also studied Mimamsam. In the three years 1911, 1912 and 1913, Mahendramangalam turned out to be a sacred pilgrimage place for the popular leaders of our country and for the famous scholars too. The divine intelligence of Maha Periyava made the job of His teachers very easy. Along with this, He also learnt English and French. One of Maharashtrian Scholars was brought from Bombay State and was made to stay at the Mutt itself for more than three years and Maha Periyava did research of several Marathi Books. Maha Periyava had boundless interest in Tamil. Therefore with the aid of some scholars He studied in depth, Tamil Grammar, Literature and also Thiruvasakam, Periya Puranam, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Thirukkural etc. The method Maha Periyava adopted to master in Arts was quite unique. Whenever he found leisure, He learnt the techniques from those scholars who were masters in different Arts. Among them, the art of Music was of particular interest to Maha Periyava.
Wanting seclusion, Maha Periyava would leave His hermitage and proceed to the sand dunes at the middle of wide Cauvery and remain there for a long period of time forgetting himself at the beautiful natural scenes and would sit in meditation. There was a great desire to capture those wonderful scenes in photograph. During such times, a devotee with a Camera used to follow Maha Periyava and take snaps of rare picturesque scenes, as ordered by Maha Periyava. As Maha Periyava was himself knowing all the techniques of camera, processing and printing, He would offer suggestions to that devotee for taking best photographs. To become proficient In Astrology and Astronomy, experts in those fields were brought to stay at the Mutt and their families were also supported. If any Thevaram Singer came, Maha Periyava used to ask him to sing his favourite ones and get immersed in it. He evinced keen interest in Vaishnava Prabandhams also such Thiruvaimozhi.
Maha Periyava stayed at Mahendramangalam from the year 1911 to 1914. Thereafter. He returned back to Kumbakonam in the year 1914. In memory of His stay at Mahendramangalam for Veda studies, a temple for Adi Sankarar was constructed, when Maha Periyava was then barely 20 years old. Even today at that Adi Sankarar temple consecrated by Him, the rituals are being conducted under the governance of Kanchi Mutt. At that temple, under instructions from Sir Jayendra of Kanchi Swamigal and Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, the idol of Maha Periyava has been installed on 12- Sep-2010.
Under instructions from Sir Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal and Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, a house at Mahendramangalam Agraharam, where Maha Periyava stayed and performed puja for 3 months, has been bought by Sri Pratyaksha Charitable Trust and A Yajur Veda Patasala in the Gurukulam model is functioning at Mahendramangalam.​
​​Many years ago, when the land belonging to the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt was being levelled, a Siva lingam and stone inscriptions were unearthed. Archaeological department has ascertained that the lingam belongs to the Mahendra Pallavan Period, and was later worshipped by Sri Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal. Near the Venugopal Perumal (Vishnu) temple, these idols were installed and were being worshipped by the people.
As per the orders of Jagadguru Acharyas of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, "Sri Kamakoti Seva Samithi Trust" was created and a team with Sri Y.Prabhu, FCA (Management Trustee), Sri.Jayaramakrishnan (VP- TCS), Sri. Kamakoti (CUB-CMD), Sri. Subramania Sastrigal of Kanchi Mutt was constituted. In memory of Maha Periyava, work has commenced to construct Sri Thirupurasundari sameda Chandramouleeswarar temple and renovation of Adhi Sankara temple Consecrated by Mahaperiyava in Mahendramangalam at a cost of Rs 90 Lakhs. Maha Mandapam, Ardha Mandapam and separate shrines for swamy And Ambal and other parivara deities have all been constructed. At the orders of Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal and Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the renovation work of Sri Adi Sankara Temple and Sri Mutt at the bank of Cauvery was undertaken.
Jagadguru Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal consecrated Sri Chandramouleswar temple and Adhi Sankarar and Mahaperiyava Temple
