Sri Narasimha Swamiji, Apostle of Sri Sai Baba
If you happen to visit any of the four States in Southern India viz : Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala, you will see Sai temples, Sai Institutions, Sai Bhajan Mandals etc. Apart from these Sai Institutions, you will come across Sai puja in every house. Most of the hotels will have a photo of Sri Saibaba and in many auto rickshaws also you will get the dharshan of Sri Saibaba.
This spread of Sai devotion in the above States took place during the last fifty years or so and one apostle of Sri Saibaba is mainly instrumental in helping this spread of Sai devotion. His name is Sri Narasimha Swamiji, the founder of the All India Sai Samaj at Mylapore, Madras.
RENUNCIATION OF EVERYTHING
"Truth is stronger than fiction" is a saying which is quoted very often and it is really true in the case of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. The original name of Swamiji was Narasimha lyer. He was born in an orthodox Brahmin family at Bhavani in Coimbatore District. The name of his father was Sri B. Venkatagiri lyer. While Narasimha was still a child, his father moved to Salem and started practice there as a pleader.
Sri Narasimha had a brilliant educational career. He passed the B, A. examination from the Madras Christian College and the B.L. examination from the Madras Law College. he started his practice at Salem from 1895. Because of his detailed knowledge of the intricacies of Law, Sri Narasimha lyer thrived at the bar and he very soon became the leading practitioner at Salem.
The life of Sri Narasimha lyer had various facets. He did not confine himself only to the court room. He was the chairman of the Salem Co-operative Bank. For some time he was the Chairman of the Salem Municipal Council. He was the member of the Literary Society. He was also elected to the Legislative Council in 1914 and continued to be a member till 1920. He was also an active member of the Indian National Congress. He also took part in the activities of the Home Rule League along with Mrs. Anne Besant.
Then came the catastrophe. His two children, a boy and a girl, accidentally fell in a well in the compound of his house and ware drowned. This event had a deep effect on the sensitive mind of Sri Narasimha lyer and he lost complete interest in the mundane life. He therefore relinquished his interests in his property, withdrew all his interests in the social and political activities and even returned his Vakil Sanad to the High Court.
IN PURSUIT OF GOD
Sri Narasimha lyer thus changed into Narasimha Swamiji and dedicated the rest of his life to the spread of Sai devotion, but his journey to Sai Baba also was a long one. Sri Swamiji first went to Arunachala. There he studied Vedanta in the company of Ramana Maharishi. From 1928 to 1930 he was at Tiruvannamalai; but by his studies there he found that he was going away from Bhakti. He then started pilgrimage of holy places. At Nasik, he met Mehur Baba and following his advice he went to Upasani Baba at Sakori. He left that place in 1933 and came to Madras. After some time he thought of collecting some information about Sri Sai Baba, the guru of Upasani Baba and discovered that Sri Sai Baba was really Sri Rama or Sri Krishna, who had been born for the welfare of mankind. He found in Sri Sai Baba the trinity and took upon himself the mission of propagating Sai faith.
Sri Swamiji then wrote the Life of Sri Sai Baba and after visiting several Sai devotees, he noted their experiences in four volumes, which show the greatness of Sri Baba in the spiritual field.
The rise and spread of Sai movement is entirely due to the initiative and devoted and single-handed endeavour of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. The All India Sai Samaj, founded by him, at Madras, is doing very precious work in Southern India and that place is almost like a Shiridi in Southern India, for all the Sai devotees. The All India Sai Samaj is carrying on various activities and celebrating festivities which are attracting devotees to the Samaj. According to the orders of Narasimha Swamiji, his very devoted disciple, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, started the Sai movement at Bangalore and developed that centre with great zeal.
The All India Sai Samaj is holding the 25th All India Sai devotees' convention at the Samaj premises from 8th June to 10th of June 1990 and on this very auspicious occasion, I bow down to its founder Sri Narasimha Swamiji, in appreciation of his singular work in the spread of Sai devotion.
Jai Sai Ram
Dr.S. D. PARCHURE Bombay