Outlook of All Religions

Swamigal had respect for any religion that accepted God. He was of opinion that everyone should follow the scriptures and sayings of their own religion. His acceptance of all religions and broad mindedness was well known amongst other leaders.

During his long Vijaya Yatra, Swamigal performed Vyasa puja of 1920 at Mayuram and stayed there for three months. During Swamigal’s stay in Mayuram, an elderly Islamic scholar who was well versed in Quran, wanted to converse with Swamigal. He was blind in both eyes and Swamigal asked him to come to the mutt around four pm. At that time, there was a sadas of vidwans who were discussing and explaining Hindu philosophy. The place was also crowded with devotees eager to have darshan of Swamigal. After the discussion of the vidwans was over, Swamigal called the muslim scholar nearby and asked him to describe the common practices and philosophies of his religion. He turned towards Swamigal and replied with tears in his eyes, ‘ What do I have to say in front of great saint as yourself? All religions show the path to God. I am able to see that Godliness in you and feel it in my heart. Wherever there is love, God can be found there too.’ All the devotees gathered there were astonished to witness the devotion of that Muslim gentleman.

Darshan to Harijans - Once in the village of Sellur ( enroute from Kudavasal to Koradacheri), Swamigal saw about two hundred harijans including women and children waiting for his darshan after having bathed, putting on clean clothes and wearing vibhuti on their foreheads. Our Swamigal got down from the palanquin and spent some time with them. He made kind enquiries about their welfare and wanted to find out if their landlords were treating them kindly. He asked them questions about their methods of worship at home and requested mutt officials to give them new clothes. The local harijans apologized for retaining Swamigal for a long time, but were very happy and felt blessed by His Holiness. His concern for the poor was great and unlimited and he never failed to exhort the better placed sections of society to go to their account Towards the end of 1924, Swamigal visited Vallam, close to Tanjore. Local Christians and Muslims joined the Hindus in giving a huge welcome to Swamigal.

Vallam had never seen such celebrations before. Lots of Harijans joined the celebrations to welcome Swamigal. A huge procession was arranged and Swamigal sat in an ivory palanquin and gave darshan to devotees. The crowds were screaming with happiness and believed that their town would prosper with Swamigal’s visit. The procession took a couple of hours and reached the place where the mutt was camped. Swamigal gave a speech where he said that he was very happy that such a grand welcome was given to him. All villages should live in harmony and peace similar to Vallam. Even when arguments and situations of discord arise, the people should settle it amongst themselves and should never let the situation elevate to a point that cases are filed in court. Whatever the religion may be, one should follow one’s religion as per rules prescribed; Christians and Muslims tend to follow their religious practices more than Hindus and Hindus should learn this aspect from Christians and Muslims. He could see the bhakthi and devotion in the hundreds of Harijans gathered there with Vibhuti in their forehead; the general public should take care of the needs of Harijans and only then would their village / towns would prosper. It is important that everyone ensures that religious piety is maintained around the country. The local people agreed to conduct themselves as per Swamigal’s advice and took their leave. Swamigal met with the Harijan men, women and children individually, inquired about their well being and gave them prasadam.

A Muslim Devotee - In the month of January of 1926, Swamigal stopped for day at Karambakudi on the way to Rajamatam for taking a bath in the ocean on the occasion of solar eclipse. When he was leaving Karambakudi to go to Pattukottai, the local citizens gathered in great numbers, at the outskirts of the town, to send him off. There were some muslims in the crowd gathered there. One muslim gentleman carried the palanquin and walked for more than three miles. Swamigal requested the palanquin to stop and called the muslim gentleman to come close to him. The muslim gentleman conveyed his personal information and details and offered the songs he had composed on Swamigal as well as a flower garland, fruits, hard sugar cubes, perfumes and gold at Swamigal’s feet. Swamigal accepted all the offerings with compassion and asked him to read the songs that he had composed, which the muslim gentleman did and explained its meaning also. Swamigal was listening to the songs with his usual smile. The muslim gentleman was silent was for some time. He later looked at Swamigal with tears of happiness pouring from his eyes and said, “Swamigal appears to my eyes in the form of Allah himself. A human being has to just have darshan of saints like Swamigal in order to let go of worldly desires.

Swamigal should lead a long life and provide darshan to devotees. I came running with the palanquin for such a long way in order to have ekanta ( in isolation) darshan of Swamigal”. His eyes reflected the bhakthi of a true devotee. Swamigal gave him leave with his blessings and compassion.

Muslim, Learned in Sanskrit The mutt officials communicated to Swamigal, when he was camped at Erode, that a muslim gentleman desired to have darshan of Swamigal. His Holiness asked the officials to bring the muslim person to him at a given time when there was less crowd. The gentleman prostrated before Swamigal and offered the slokas that he had composed on Swamigal in the Sanskrit language. He had also drawn pictures containing Sanskrit aksharas ( letters) in the form of a shivalinga. He read the slokas in the presence of Swamigal and also explained the meaning to the surprise of the people gathered there.

Swamigal asked the gentleman as to how he obtained knowledge of Sanskrit to the level

of composing slokams. To this, the gentleman explained that his ancestors were all well versed in Sanskrit and he had learnt the skill from his father. He was eager to demonstrate

his skill to Swamigal and to other respected people and was glad to have got that day, a golden opportunity, which even his ancestors themselves did not get. He shed tears of happiness and stayed silent in the golden presence of Swamigal. He was blessed by Swamigal who encouraged him to continue the study of Sanskrit after exclaiming that this was the first time he had ever met a Muslim gentleman well versed in Sanskrit.

The above is an excerpt from “Pujya Sri Mahaswamy Divya Charitram” by Sri Sambamoorthi Shastrigal, Sri Kuppuswamy Iyer, “Sollin Selvan” P. N. Parasuraman – 1957

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Vijaya Yatra

The peetathipathis of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had taken upon themselves as part of their pontifical duties, traveling around, giving audience to people, giving them advice and encouraging their spiritual growth.

Our Swamigal also wanted to take on such a journey after becoming the Peetathipathi.

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