உ
சிவமயம்
MARKANDU SWAMY
Markandu Swamy was born on 29-1-1899 in Piranpattu (பிரான்பற்று) and was named as Markandu by his parents. His father’s name was Saravanamuthu and his mother’s name was Sinnakkutti (சின்னக்குட்டி).
Markandu Swamy’s primary education took place in Piranpattu junior school and Vadalyadaippu Saiva Vidyalayam. Secondary education took place in Kanthar Oodai Hindu College, where he obtained Cambridge Senior Qualification. His younger days were immersed in spiritual activities and prayers in the local Murugan Temple, where he was introduced to Thiruvathvoorar puranam and Thirumurai songs. His aim in his younger days to follow Saivite disciplines was evident and he lived a disciplined life to conform to those principles, in non-vegetarian surroundings.
In 1918 with his Cambridge Senior Qualification, he obtained a job in the surveyor department in Diyatalawa. Yogaswamy’s guidance to Markandu Swamy can be expressed by the Natchinthanai songs below, which he first engaged in full time during this period:
திருவம்மானானை
அங்குமிங்குமாக வலைந்து திரிவேனைத்
தங்குங் கருணையினாற் றானாண்டு கொண்டான்
எங்கள் குருநாதன் எழிலார் திருவடியை
இங்குநாம் பாடி யின்புறுவோ மம்மானாய்
ஆருமறியாமல் அந்தரங்கமாயருளைச்
சேரும்படி வைத்த செல்வக்குருநாதன்
ஊரும் பேருமறியா வொருவன் கழல்பாடி
நீரும்பூவுங் கொண்டுநிதம் போற்றுதுங்கா ணம்மானாய்
Thiruvamanai
I who roam about here and there
Overcome by his mercy
We sing praises to the holy feet of our Gurunathan
And gain pleasure Ammanai
Our dear Gurunathan who without others knowing
Privately floods me with grace
Singing about the feet of the one without name or place
And worshipping regularly with water and flower Ammanai
Markandu Swamy’s first meeting with Yogaswamy was during his first employment (1918) in Diyatalawa. Yogaswamy continued to guide him, by providing the required experience, that was necessary at every stage of his life while Markandu Swamy was performing his family and community duties.
Markandu Swamy’s punctuality, education and attention to details in performing his duties in the surveyor department was well recognised and he was very well respected by all. Yogaswamy’s divine grace captured him and protected Markandu Swamy and allowed Markandu Swamy to lead a simple life without any external show. This principle and the format allowed Markandu Swamy to engage in the spiritual journey without any publicity during his professional life. Yogaswamy continued to guide him by providing the required experience that was necessary at every stage of his life. Thus Yogaswamy’s grace formed the foundation to Markandu Swamy’s spiritual journey.
All the required characteristics such as patience and calmness were in evidence in Markandu Swamy.
Markandu Swamy did not have any urge to acquire wealth or promotions in his job and practiced celibacy.
Markandu Swamy donated all his inheritance to the Piranpattu Murugan temple. Markandu Swamy practised all that he learnt from his experience and did not blindly follow any other advice. Markandu Swamy’s philosophy was that of a surveyor who clears all obstacles when building a path by himself and he practised the same principles in his real life.
Markandu Swamy continued to work wholeheartedly while following spiritual and religious practices as provided by Yogaswamy.
During vacations he went home and looked after his parents, made the necessary arrangements for his sister’s marriage and was involved in the development of a local library, school and temple. He strictly followed daily morning and evening prayers and meditation.
Yogaswamy visited him at least once per year in Diyatalawa. During these visits Markandu Swamy was provided with practical meditation training along with food intake habits and rationing.
When Markandu Swamy was transferred to Colombo, he attended Saiva Sithantha classes conducted by learned people in Colombo.
Yogaswamy continued to provide the required training to live in the busy and noisy environment without any change to the self-realisation status for Markandu Swamy. During that period, the Divine Grace made Markandu Swamy enjoy true self-realisation and control of mind.
In 1949, when Markandu Swamy was 50, he retired from his full-time job and fully surrendered to Yogaswamy. Yogaswamy accepted his total submission and placed him in a house in Vannarponnai. Yogaswamy had already started to prepare the ultimate residence for Markandu Swamy in Kaithadi from 1938.
In 1938 Yogaswamy advised the Kaithadi family to construct an ashram on their property. In 1940 after the milk boiling ceremony took place in the ashram in tamil May (வைகாசி) Friday. Boiled milk was taken to Navatkuly station and shared with Yogaswamy and the devotees who were there on that day. A lamp was lighted starting from that day in the Ashram. On 7-2 1942 Yogaswamy was on his way to Chavakacheri market to purchase palmyra tuber (பனங்கிளங்கு). He stopped in Kaithadi and had lunch with the family in Kaithadi when Yogaswamy told the family that he was on his way to Chavakacheri market to purchase palmyra tuber (பனங்கிளங்கு). The Kaithadi family gave Yogaswamy the required amount for palmyra tuber (பனங்கிளங்கு). Yogaswamy paid Rs 5, which the family believed made them prosperous. Teacher Visuvalingam who lived with the family in Kaithadi was afrequent visitor (minimum once a week) to Yogaswamy’s Ashram in Columbuthurai. On 25- 12-1950, Yogaswamy directed Visuvalingam master to prepare the Ashram and said “I am going to give you a friend and when he leaves, he will leave everything for you.” Then Yogaswamy asked Visuvalingam to stay that day in Columbuthurai and asked him to go on 27-12-1950 (Tuesday). Yogaswamy went to Kaithadi with idali (இட்டலி) and advised the Kaithadi family to be ready for Friday (30-12-1950) for Markandu Swamy’s arrival. Instead both Yogaswamy and Markandu Swamy arrived on 29-12-1950 in a car saying “today is a good day” (” இன்று நல்ல நாள் “) with a bed, mattress and pressure cooker. The car was sent back. The pressure cooker was used to make tea which was served to those present in the Kaithadi Ashram. By 5 pm on 29-12-1950 Yogaswamy left Kaithadi to return to Columbuthurai Ashram.
Based on all the events that took place in Markandu Swamy’s life, it is very clear that Yogaswamy had been guiding and following Markandu Swamy from the time he started full time employment in Diyatalawa and Colombo. The initiation was completed when Markandu Swamy’s mature state was realised and the self-surrendering took place at Yogaswamy’s feet. Yogaswamy took Markandu Swamy to the already prepared Ashram in Kaithadi on 25/12/1950, and the Kaithadi Ashram became his ultimate residence. From this day the public recognised and referred to Markandu Swamy as Markandu Swamy.
Yogaswamy regularly visited Kaithadi and subjected Markandu Swamy to the similar test and tribulation that Yogaswamy underwent with his Guru Chellappa swamy.
After Yogaswamy’s Maha Samathy, Markandu Swamy allowed devotees to light camphor in the Ashram and blessed the devotees with Natchinthanai songs and Teachings.
Markandu Swamy continued to recite the Natchinthanai songs and conveyed the Natchinthanai Teachings throughout his whole life to the world.
In the UK, Santhaswamy had been advised of the inquiries by Markandu Swamy, which prompted Santhaswamy to return to Kaithadi on 5-12-1978. Santhaswamy stayed in Kaithadi and was able to provide his services to Markandu Swamy during his last days before Samathy.
Santhaswamy returned to the UK on 18th May 1984.
Markandu Swamy attained Samathy on 29-5-1984 and his holy Asthi has been enshrined in the Kaithadi Ashram. Regular daily poojas, monthly Karthihai poojas and annual Guru Poojas take place in the Kaithadi Ashram.
Contents of Markandu Swamy’s letter:
Dear Eswaran,
Thank you very much for your kind letter. Swamy’s உபதேசம் :
“பாடு பட்டவன் பட்டத்தில் இருப்பான் ” (Swamy’s advice: those who work hard will do well in life)
With best wishes for you both,
Yours affectionately,
S.Markandu
