A biography of the Swami was published in June 1999 as a small book by Vellimalai Hindu Dharma Vidhya Peedam Unit in Sri Vivekananda Ashrama. I will post it here. ForewordI have been living a pure life so far. In this long life of mine, not a single evil thought or evil thought has arisen in my mind.
This is the miracle that I have seen – What is the miracle that you have seen in your ascetic life? This was Swami Madhurananda’s reply when asked.Such would be the answer of a saint who came in the footsteps of Lord Sri Ramakrishna, Mother Saradadevi and Swami Vivekananda. They never had miraculous powers like Sidhu works and healing. They considered an unadulterated holy life as a dream. They tried to live such a life. Swami Madhurananda lived such a miraculous life among us.
youth Swamigala was born on Friday, April 14, 1922 (Vishaka Nakshatra in the month of Chitrai) at Iraniyal in Kanyakumari district. Bandarampillai and Lakshmi Ammaiyar got the blessing of having him as a son. The name given to him by his parents was Subpaiyapillai. Three important characteristics observed in the Swami at a very early age were devotion to God, attachment to monks and non-violence.There was a Bhajani Mutt in front of his house. Sri Ram Pooja and Bhajan were held there every day. These were the first influences in Swami’s life. Swami also got the opportunity to read Devaram, Thiruvasakam, Tirupukazh and Gita at an early age.Anyone seen wearing saffron would be worshiped by Swami, taken home and given food. He never misses any opportunity to serve them.When he was studying in the sixth standard, the Tamil teacher one day in the class,Calling Kollan Bulalai Reuthana, all living beings prayexplained the trick. From then on, the mother refused Pulal no matter how much she begged him.
Teenage daysTraits like devotion, penchant for asceticism and non-violence occupied Swami’s youth as well. It was his penchant for non-violence that made him so involved with the Gandhis. Gandhiji and his ideas had a special place in Swami’s life till his college days.For his college studies, Swamilag joined Intermediate in Thiruvananthapuram in 1941. His college studies were uneventful. Trivandrum Chitra Hindu Library used to conduct religious classes every morning by great pundits and monks. After participating in it every morning, he goes to college. Even in the evening he would read the books of Vivekananda. When to study college subjects? A month before the final exam: that’s when he starts studying for college courses, and then he’s good at it.A very restricted life led Swami in his youth and teenage days. When it came to virtue, virtues and spiritual attainments, he never gave room for laxity at any stage. In one of his diary entries during his college days – I spoke angrily to Innar today. So dinner is skipped – it is seen. From this it can be inferred from what perspective he saw life and what kind of controlled life he lived.
Whether his life was devotional, bhajana, spiritual, divine, he needed someone to systematize it all and guide him on a proper path. Swami soon got a chance to meet such a person.
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