Siddharameshwar
Indian guru
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Biography
Siddharameshwar was born in 1888 in the village Pathri, Solapur, India, making him one of the contemporaries of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Since childhood, he had been credited with a sharp intellect and a natural ability to learn and absorb knowledge; in 1906, in Karnataka, he was initiated into Inchagiri by his guru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj, who taught mantra meditation as the way to reach Final Reality.
In 1920, Siddharameshwar started to set out on "the Bird's Path", the fast way to attain realization, six years after Bhauhaseb Maharaj had died. His fellow-students opposed this course of action; but, eventually, Siddharameshwar succeeded in attaining realization by himself.
Siddharameshwar died from an infection on 9 November 1936 (Ekadashi, 11th day in the latter half of Ashwin), at the age of 48, giving his understanding to his disciples. It is said that dozens of his disciples became self-realized through his clear and lucid teaching. His samadhi shrine today is located at Basavan Bagewadi, Vijaypur in Karnataka.
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Teachings
Atma Vidya
Atma Vidya ("Self-Knowledge") is the central theme in Siddharameshwar Maharaj's teachings. In Master Key to Self-Realization he describes how the teaching of Vedanta is transmitted to a student. It starts with a meeting with a guru, who tells the student about the teachings. Thereafter, a mantra is used by the student to meditate and make the mind more receptive; when this has been accomplished to the guru's satisfaction, he explains the teaching further, which has to be realized experientially by the student.
The student has to turn away his mind from external objects and the gross body, and "turn within". By realizing that objects have only a temporary appearance, it becomes possible to develop detachment and to clear one's mental attitude from pride. This is a necessary step to develop Self-Knowledge, the renunciation of the impermanent, and the acceptance of the permanent.
The koshas
To realize this Self-Knowledge, an investigation of the four bodies has to be made to discover whence the notion of "I" comes. Siddharameshwar Maharaj discerns four bodies:
- The Physical Gross Body
- The Subtle body:
- the Five Senses of Action (hands, feet, mouth, genitals, and anus)
- the Five Senses of Knowledge (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin)
- the Five Pranas or vital breaths (vyana vayu, samana vayu, udana vayu, apana vaya, prana vayu)
- the Mind (manas)
- The Intellect (Buddhi)
- The Causal Body, characterized by "emptiness", "ignorance" and "darkness"
- The Great-Causal Body, the knowledge of "I am" that cannot be described, the state after Ignorance and Knowledge, or Turiya state
By subsequently identifying with the three lower bodies, investigating them, and discarding identification with them when it has become clear that they are not the "I", the sense of "I am" beyond knowledge and Ignorance becomes clearly established.
The Bird's way
The teachings of Siddharameshwar have been called Vihangam Marg, "the Bird's Way", the direct path to Self-discovery, in contrast to Bhausaheb Maharaj's teachings, which have been called Pipilika Marg , "the Ant's way", the way of meditation:
Ranjit Maharaj: There are two ways to realize: the bird's way or ant's way. By meditation (or ant's way) one can realize. The word or name has so much power. The name you were given by your parents has done so many things. Mantra is given by the master, but it is a very long way for the understanding. By chanting or saying the mantra you can go to the final reality. There are only two things: one is reality, the other is illusion. One word only can wipe out illusion.
So one thought [i.e. mantra] from the Master who has realized is sufficient to realize. It is a very lengthy way, that's the only thing. So my Master found the shortest way, by thinking. By unthinking you have become the smallest creature, and by thinking you can become the greatest of the great, why not? If you don't have the capacity to understand by thinking, the bird's way, then you can go by way of meditation. It is the long way and you have to meditate for many hours a day. People say they meditate, but most don't know how to meditate. They say that God is one and myself is another one, that is the duality. It will never end that way.
So one word is sufficient from the Master. Words can cut words, thoughts can cut thoughts in a fraction of a second. It can take you beyond the words, that is yourself. In meditation you have to eventually submerge your ego, the meditator, and the action of the meditation, and finally yourself. It is a long way, and in this world now people have no time to do that. The world is going so fast now. So my Master found the shortest way.
Usage of classical texts
Siddharameshwar Maharaj used four core texts upon which to give sermons:
- Dasbodh of Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas
- the Yoga Vasistha
- the "Eknathi Bhagwat" of Sant Eknath
- "Sadachara" of Shri Madhvacharya
Lineage
Siddharameshwar Maharaj's preachings were further spread around the globe by his most revered disciples:
- Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000) was with Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj for 12 years from the young age of 12 until the age of 24
- Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) was with him for 2+1⁄2 years, 1933–1936.
- Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar (1905–2001) Maharaj met his Guru Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj in 1935 and was with him for a period of about one year.
- Sri Ganapatrao Maharaj Kannur (1909–2004) was with him for 13 years.
- Shri Vilasanand Maharaj (1909–1993).
- Shri Ranachhodray Maharaj, Baitkhol Karwar.
Quotes of Siddharameshwar Maharaj
- "As is your concept, so will you see." - Dasbodh: Chapter 12, Subchapter 8, Verse 1
- "If you go beyond the source you will find that there exists nothing".
- "Spiritual science is the science where self is considered to first and foremost".
- "Mind is a collection of determinants and doubts".