Rama Nama Mahima – Swami Bodhendrar – Part 4
Swami Bodhendrar had spent his entire life spreading the Rama Nama and teaching the value and power of the Name. The time had come for him to go back to the Universal Godhead – SriRama. One day he was walking along the sacred banks of Cauvery river. The beauty and the peace of the place appealed to him. He saw some children playing in the sands of the river. They dug holes in the sand and stood in them and pulled the river mud inside to cover half their legs. They climbed out and repeated the procedure again and again. It was a game of hide and seek for them. The Supreme Godhead beckoned to Swami Bodhendrar and he saw the right opportunity to move out of this material world.
Swami Bodhendrar asked the children if he could also play with them. The children were very enthusiastic and happy. So he asked them to dig a pit large enough to accommodate his body and cover him with sand. He told the children he would come out the hole, the way they pulled their legs out. The children followed his instructions enthusiastically. Together, they dug a large pit. Swami Bodhendrar sat in it. He told them to cover him with the river mud and that once the game was over, he would be back in no time. The children followed his instructions without considering the repercussions of burying him fully in the sand. They were just playing a game with the Swami. The Swami was buried under the sands and the children played about and went home when it was evening. That day was the day of full moon of the Tamil month of Purattasi(Sep-Oct) 1692. Swami Bodhendra Saraswathi attained Jeeva Samadhi sitting in a yogic state on the banks of Cauvery river in Govindapuram.
The next day, Swami Bodhendrar was nowhere to be seen or found. All the people of the Mutt and the village went in search of him. Some people reached the river banks where they saw some children playing. When they questioned them, they found out that he was buried under the sands alive. The villagers were alarmed and intensified their search. More men came in and all were searching for the buried Swami. As the search continued, they all heard an unseen voice declare: Stop searching. Swami Bodhendrar has attained MahaSamadhi. Do not disturb him anymore. So they went back and declared to the world that Swami Bodhendrar had attained his Rama. And the place where Swami Bodhendrar attained Mahasamdhi was forgotten.
Later on, many searched for the spot where the body of Swami Bodhendrar was buried as they wished to erect his Samadhistal ( a construction marking the final place where his body rested in MahaSamadhi). A hundred years after the event, the search was still on. Sri Maruthanallur Sadguru Swamigal regarded Swami Bodhendrar as his ‘Manasika Guru’ (accepted him mentally as his Guru), searched the area meticulously. He tied his legs and crawled on the river bank as he did not want to accidentally touch the MahaSamadhi with his feet. At once spot, he could hear the sound of Rama Nama being chanted over and over again and marked the spot. He took the help of the King of Tanjore for building the Adhishtanam there. The spiritual presence of Swami Bodhendrar still resides in his Adhisthana at Govindapuram. It is said that in the calm silence of the night, a melodious voice uttering the Rama Nama can be heard. It rises from subdued tones to a crescendo and then fades into silence again.
There is no need for elaborate worship rituals or learning of texts or discussions on sacred scriptures. It is enough to just chant the Holy Name of Rama. It purifies and sanctifies us.The greatness of Rama Nama is described by Lord Shiva to Parvati Devi. He says:
rama rama rameti rame rame manorame
sahasra nama tat tulyam rama nama varanane
"O Varanana (lovely-faced woman), I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramachandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Vishnu." (Brhad- visnu- sahasranama -stotra, Uttara - khanda, Padma Purana )
Let us chant the Holy name of Rama continuously with faith and devotion and live in peace in this world and finally attain the Holy Feet of the Lord.
