Guru Garu Katha

 Full name of Guru Garu:

Sri (Respected)
Swa-prakasha (self illuminating)
Ananda (rejoicing in that)
Theertha (one who has pledged to discard his body in the river)
Paramahamsa (The great Swan above the mundane creation)
Digambara (naked awareness)
Avadhuta (beyond the 4 avasthas)
Acharya (Teacher)
swamy (holy one)

He physically appeared on earth in year 1915 in a small village by name Vidurbharthi in Andhra pradesh
He married his shakthi Sri Sarva Sodulamma in year 1926 (She left her physical body, after he quit Earth first)
He started his spiritual pursuit in year 1927 (Not known which spiritual path was taken)
He was blessed with 3 sons and 4 daughters in year 1937 (and none later), only one of his daughter was identified by him as being qualified for spiritual journey and might have received diksha directly from him
He received diksha from Sri Poornananda Yogi, a disciple of the Tibetian guru Maru Maharishi (when he traveled to Tibet) in year 1935.
In the same year, he entered into srividya upasana thru his second Guru Sri Kesari Kameswara Rao (In Andhra pradesh)
He attained Poorna dhiksha from Sri Gnanananda Saraswathi of Anakapali in year 1947
He mastered all the 64 tantras (practiced mostly in Orissa and Andhra pradesh) and also received diksha in saptha koti mahavidyas from 18 peetams across India in the year 1958
He spent 3 years in Kashi, doing sadhana of 32 kalikas (every single day with navavarna archana,puja etc.) till he achieved siddhi in all, he was helped (and guided) by his peer Sri Dakshinamurthi Paramahamsa (of Vizag)
He received Chintamani mahavidyeshwari vidya from a brahma rakshasa in the year 1973 and attained knowledge of all 7 crore mantras, 4 vedas and their commentaries and also complete mastery of Sanskrit language

Sri Kalyananda Theertha Maharaj blessing Guru Garu

He met his final Guru Sri Kalyananda theertha Maharaj in Haridwar in year 1980 and offered all his mantra,tantra, upasana at his feet and took sanyasa. At the second meeting, he attained subtle union completely with his guru and was graced with omkara diksha from Sri Kadambari baba (srividya diksha namam of Mahavatara babaji)
Then subsequently, he also received paramahamsa parivrajaka diksha and then later on Digambara diksha too
He quit his physical body in year 2002 when Guru poornima commenced at 6 pm evening

 --------------------

 Gurugaru went to Tibet and took entry into Vajrayana thru his Tibetan teacher by name Maru rishi (I have sought to know more about this elusive saint without success, with my Tibetan teacher), then by the age of 32, he was already purna diksha from a srividya teacher of madhwa sampradaya and by the time he completed 50 years, Gurugaru was already siddhi in few mantras and then he took the dictum of kularnava tantra literally going to 50 peetams to be initiated in various mantras (unlike nowadays, where we seek books or google for a mantra) and having collected 7 crore mantras in his own mind, sat in his own residence at Anakapalle,Vizag and under guidance of a sadhana guru, accomplished the Hercules task of completing the siddhi of all of them in 3 years time.

In 1980 at the age of 65 he sacrificed all his vidyas,siddhis,tantras,manthras, japam and thapam,wife and children,near and dear,total property, at last his own body also by viraja homam and taken sanyasa ashram near sri kalyananda theertha Maharaj,peethadhipati of Bhadrakali peetam, Haridwar

 He took the paramahamsa digambara diksha from him, at the auspicious time of becoming one with the Guru, he received shuddha pranavam from Kadambari baba, who appeared as a blazing light in the heart of his Guru

The final step was, Avadhuta guru received final instructions and also some internal kriyas from kadambari baba in mental plane, which made him to completely become a jeevamuktha

Salutations to this strange eccentric Godman (who was not understood even by his disciples, since they were overwhelmed by his personality and energy radiating)

 --------------------
 
 Avadhuta gurugaru addressed the female disciples as amma,parameswari, bangaru thalli( golden mother). He did not show his powers.He felt that they are obstruction for spiritual sadhana which increases propaganda,so that the sadhaka will be disturbed. So he was very far away from public meetings,and felicitations.He said that as far as possible the Yogi should maintain loneliness and try for atma sakshatkara.

 --------------------

He used to sleep in the night, and then quit the body, travel to mahasiddhas in the Himalayas, have discussion and then come back to his own physical body in the early morning. 
 

  --------------------

The Emperor of Avadhutas, Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Paramahamsa Avadhtua strictly followed the below mentioned austerities (principles)
1. An avadutha should not stay in the houses of householders (gruhasthas) for
more days.
2. He should not attend any functions.
3. If he has to take the food ,it is served by a bachelor or punya sthree( a lady who has living husband)
4. He should sleep on the floor without a cloth or wooden cot
5. he should take a very light and satvik food

 --------------------

He never used to entertain questions from his disciples. When asked too, he used to avoid the queries or change topics or used to reply 'why do you want to know?'. Sometimes he used to praise people to boost their ego. 

- Uma Amma

   -------------------- 

He had done the samyama yoga,which is unique one. In the midnight, he used to do this sadhana, so that he had relation with the himalayan yogis,siddha yogis those who are residing in very far places.In those days he discussed so many things regarding secret spiritual matters.Some of them were revealed to the disciples next day, which are not published in any old literature 

   --------------------

1. 'I have got siddhi in 58 mantras, I have to get in 4 more mantras and I am searching them, from books'-Avadhuta gurugaru with disciple of Guruji. Then a month passed and when the latter visited and inquired regarding this, with the great guru, the reply he got was 'I am OK, I am free, I need not do any more japam'. The disciple did not understand the strange behavior of the Guru, residing in Avadhuta state

2.  Disciple of Guruji consulted the Avadhuta gurugaru regarding his horoscope, The great guru asked him what was his birth star and then gave a remedial solution of chanting a particular mantra. But during and after the conversation, the disciple could glimpse into Avadhuta gurugaru's mind, that the latter knew everything!

3. Once the disciple on visiting Avadhuta gurugaru, was faced with a query from the Guru 'when will I get moksha', the disciple replied 'I don't know, maybe before year 2003 or 2004' then the Guru replied 'No, no, I will leave the body before then'. Then the great Guru shared his date of birth, and the disciple bought an astrologer, with whom the Guru had discussion for 30 minutes and all during their talk, The disciple could comprehend that the Avadhuta gurugaru did not need any consultation from a astrologer, since he was all-knowing

  -------------------- 


He is a Gentleman
He is a renunciate
He is simple and was a vagabond from age of 3
He tried many things

-Sri Amritananda natha Saraswathi, describing Avadhuta gurugaru

  --------------------

 

 He is aghori and he is formless. He is everything.

- Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswathi, commenting on  Avadhuta Gurugaru with Meher Siva



  --------------------

He was a very dangerous and incomprehensible

- Sri Amritananda natha Saraswathi on his guru, Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta gurugaru, sharing this observation to his disciples from Russia at Devipuram

--------------------

He was blazing like a fire 

- UmaAmma

  -------------------- 

When Avadhuta Gurugaru went to Ganganapur(famous datta kshetra in Karnataka state),he saw an old woman shivering with cold,Gurugaru gave his kanduva(a cloth wearing on the left shoulder) to that lady.From then on, Gurugaru did not wear the kanduva. 

  -------------------- 

Avadhutha gurugaru used to give mantras to all categories of people without seeing caste,creed and gender. Some people were criticizing him also. Then one of the disciples asked Gurugaru about this, then Gurugaru replied 'Those who are having interest in doing japa, are eligible to take mantras'

  
   --------------------

He was very happy while leaving the physical body. He informed us 3 days in advance. At the point of quitting the body, he sat in padmasana, with eyes wide open, he left

-One of the daughters of Avadhuta gurugaru narrating the sacred moments 

 --------------------

Guruji Amritananda: He could not fulfill his own wish, of throwing away his body into flowing river, while leaving the body. He was admitted in hospital, was given steroid injections. He knew when to drop the body, to demonstrate the greatness of Guru tattwam and his own identity with the entire Guru mandala, by keeping the appointment at 6 pm evening, on the day, when Guru poornima commenced.

- Devipuram Guruji did meet him in the hospital few days before, when the latter was in good spirits. He was looked after by his children and devotees 

 -------------------

Comments on Avadhuta gurugaru by his leading disciple, Devipuram Guruji:

I do not want to trouble him

(context: When asked, have you seen Avadhuta gurugaru, after he left his mortal coil)

Please remain silent, do not make noise, since Avadhuta gurugaru may visit in any for at any time, he is unmatta, he is pishacha

(context: During the time of second Kumbhabhishkem at Devipuram, Guruji was addressing the crowd)

 --------------------
  
Once Guru Garu attended the construction of Temple in Devipuram, as a result one building crushed completely, some workers escaped, others - fell ill. Guru Garu followed idea that until you have razed to the ground old, you can not start anything new.

 - Guruji Amritananda

 --------------------

Avadhuta gurugaru himself expressed regret, that he had walked all the paths before coming to Dattatreya. He also expressed gratitude vocally and attributed his jeevanmuktha avastam to Swamy's grace. And like in the divyouga parampara of his, kapila muni (Jnanamatha of Datta), Dattatreya and Avadhuta gurugaru himself were all sanyasins. Its a mystery who his guru was for the priceless Datta mantras. The king of all Avadhutas had ascended to such great heights, that he could identify himself as the consort to Hladini Devi (who is none than Kamakya) supreme mistress of Vaishnava tantras and Vimarshamba Devi supreme mistress of Sri krama tantras.

 --------------------

Sweet Anecdote as narrated by  Lana L Reichert:

When Avadhuta gurugaru was preparing to leave his physical body, he told Devipuram Guruji that he was going to give one of his gifts/powers to him. Guruji asked what that was. He was told it was the ability to read peoples minds - which Guruji immediately insisted he did not want - but his Guru said that Guruji was the only one he could trust with that gift. So one early evening, Guruji walked out in the field with the cows at Devipuram and gave the gift to a cow

--------------------

Sometimes, he used to sport a sad look commenting to himself about inadequacy of sadhana being done by somebody, since being all knowing,he could keep track about his disciples.No one could fathom, which mood the king of Avadhutas would sport, the next moment, the next hour or the next day. Once a disciple was surprised to see the great Guru-maker, angry and asked the latter why he was angry, then Avadhuta gurugaru asked him to 'shut up, get out, its none of your business'

 
 --------------------

 Gurugaru practiced lambika yoga, kundalini yoga and explained to his disciples very clearly .He was asking his disciples the progress in the sadhana. Some times Gurugaru practiced Ajagara diksha ( Meaning: not trying for food. if he gets food he eats, otherwise he will keep quiet).

 -------------------- 

Though Guruvugaaru is not my Srividya Guru He nevertheless is like my father,grandfather,guru and everything rolled into one! Blessed is the land of Bharathavarsha to have given birth to such a Datta-gaint! He used to say to me always "Nuvvu DeviTanayudu vayya!"(You are the son of Devi).And I used to play with his matted locks as a toddler. I nostaIgically remember that as a toddler I used to go and look in one picture of Rajarajeshwari Amba he had and say to Him with all sincerity and innocence befitting that age-- "Nenu choodadaniki Ammavaarulaaga kanipisthunannaa? Ledhe!"(Do I look like Amba Rajarajeshwari? I do not think so!") He used to laugh out aloud and say " Champesavayya! Nuvvu naa maata nammu , nuvvu nijangaa Deviputruduve'!"(Translating literally:"You have killed me!(I am damned!) You should believe me! You are truly Divine mother Rajarajeshwari's son!") My father was among his first disciples and knew him for more than 60 years!When my father lost a son at a young age,Guruvugaaru comforted him and my mother(who lost all belief in God) that he saw Devi handing Him a baby boy(me apparently) and that he will be born soon and asked my father and mother(who had by then crossed menopause stage!) to ingest 'navaneeta'(mantrically energised butter made to sit on the
shaligrama-mahameru bindusthana for 15 days ) every Pournami. (He used to keep the Shaligrama-Mahameru in His lap and meditate with the 'Navaneetha' on it for my father's sake for days.In this picture He is seen meditating on a Datta-vigraha) My mother who was a bit rational minded was stunned at this miracle! It looked like something straight out of Gurucharitra! and wondered how many more such Avadhutas exist in India who can go against the tide of scientific thinking and work from the heart of God such miracles!

---------------------

He was one of the greatest Datta devotees I ever knew personally.If He were alive He would have commented on me thus, "Edhava(Vedhava) sunta! Naa gurunchi anthaa telusaa raa neeku, ninna puttina gadukkaai? Naa gurunchi raasetivaadandha edhigaavuraaa? vedhavanaakodukaa! Champesaavuraa Raaamaa! HAHAHAHAHA!"(This would have been his typical response)
Anyways this 'vedhavanaakoduku' would love to narrate some facts about Him:
He used to mercilessly rant against the popular Swamis,Babas,and even some religious figures in the Datta field and berated their paths as totally dishonest paths which 'Dattudu'(His pet name for Lord Dattatreya) hated.
He used to lead a very spartan life and used to confuse people a lot as to his reality to evade people.
He lived with a small ochre raiment which He used to dye himself.He used to sleep on a wooden slab which was later converted to a small table.
He used to like me enormously though He used to shoo away other kids who used to pester Him.This made me proud and boastful as a kid! ;) I used to imagine this was because of my courage to face his ire whereas other kids who played with me when I went to his home-town used to fear him and hide.When people used to be afraid to even go near Him, I used to climb on Him and play with His matted locks and ask Him questions like "Why is your skin colour- copper?"
He used to laugh heartily at such questions.He also used to give me some very powerful Datta-Bhairava mantras even when I was say, studying in fourth standard and say to me, "Ramaa! take this today, Dattudu came and gave me in my ears and said .....(efficacy of the mantra)...will happen if you do this mantra."
My father with trembling hands used to write the hard to pronounce beejas(which used to be a combination of many syllables like say "Haskarleem" or "Hasmakshryoom") and then make me say it correctly. I particularly enjoyed the strange sounding mantras and used to chant it for fun as a kid!My prized possession was a 'Bala Datta' photo He gave me long time ago.
Now, I thought at that age, 'Dattudu' was His family friend and that He used to come regularly to see Him.Later I knew He was the Avatar of trinity.
He also used to behave quixotically. He suddenly used to say to his "disciples"(bunch of village vagabonds who used to pass their time with Him in gup-shup and playing cards or drinking some alcohol or eating tobacco..he never played cards for some strange reason...)," Orrai vedhavallaaraa(Hey useless people!), Ippudu manam Shirdipuriki veladhaamaa?(Shall we go to Shirdi?). Akkada vacchi thikka veshalu veyyakandi, Ammayalani choosaaro,Lanjakodakallaraa, Ayina dengesthaaru..."('Don't play their or ogle women there Baba will punish you severely.'Ofcourse, I have translated in a 'sanitized' way as they did for Shirdi Sai Baba what He said but I guess Telugu readers can understand the 'deva bhasha'! :))
He knew that some of his 'disciples' used to frequent brothel houses and He used to warn them in his charaecteristic style just once, if they did not listen he used to keep quite and let fate take them over as dreaded diseases.
This was the template for any religious visit which He proposes(not just to Shirdi)
His 'disciples' used to book a ticket and He used to come as it is without any luggage except another piece of cloth tied to his waist and sit in the train.(People in India are accustomed to Yogis and Sadhus)
After getting down at Aurangabad some devotee in Maharshtra(He had people who became His devotees after He helped them in their lives all over India) used to come with a taxi-car and then go to Shirdi
Then in Shirdi He used to say, "Ok, Now you all go inside and have darshan. I will stay here out"
Some protested and said, "But what is the purpose of coming all the way from Anakapalli(those days He used to stay in Anakapalli) and coming to Shirdi and staying outside and not seeing Baba.It is an ainsult to Him...." They tried to lecture Him but He would have no such nonsense and if He heard more He used to slience them with the choicest Devabhasha and pack them off. Whereas he used to raise his legs in the backseat of the car(ambasssador) and keep His legs jutting out of the windows and smiling and closing His eyes(as if spekaing with Baba) and then after His disciples came He used to hurry them back home.
No one understood His strange behaviour.It was better not to understand. He however never said anything to women and respected them with the exception of very few(there too he never used to use any explicit language).
'The lamp is darkest just beneath'--His family members never understood Him properly except for a few relatives and they used to think He was a Vamachari though in actuality He was an Avadhuta.
His life history has been written by Sri Ramarao Garu in a small booklet(whose son helped me a lot by bringing the Chandana-prasadam from Him when I was affected mentally by Kundalini Sadhana going awary and suffered burning pains and it was the Chandana(small packet carefully wrapped by Him in an old newspaper) that brought relief. I used to wait for the next packet and inform Ramarao Garu's son)Im indebted to Him for the same.God Bless Him wherever He is! I lost contact with Him and His son but I think my father has the book. I will peruse the book for certain dates and facts and then bring out His life-story.
He lived like an avadhuta and left his mortal coils like one.

His possessions were:
1. Two old ochre rags and an ochre dyed lean pillow behind him
2. A small wooden table(gifted by his daughter, whom he used to call 'Ammulu' and He used to stay with Her till His death because She pleaded with Him to stay with Her instead roaming about in gutters and forests bearby)
3. Spectacles to read sometimes but never saw Him wear it!
4. Spectacles cover- an old platic cover(Incidentally the spectacles was gifted by a pharmacy guy who got some favour done through Him and since Guruvugaru never accepted any money from him he used to give medicines and on one occasion he gifted Guruvugaru with a spectacles since He saw him strain to read a disciple's letter. Guruvugaru made a big fuss about going to the eye doctor and getting His eyes checked but ultimately the loving entreaties of the pharmacy wallah prevailed and He reduced His anger(much like shirdi sai baba)( and came to the eye doctor and checked his eyes)
5. He had one fascination though(maybe a small weakness) for one small pocket radio(for a while, then he gifted that away to his close dicsiple who kept it as a sacred relic in his puja room). He used to hear songs from vividhbharathi and later on FM and say "Ahaa! they sing so beautifully Dattudu should bless them!"He loved S.Janaki's voice very much.He said once to us, "She will suffer from skin disease but she will overcome it through her faith.I will see to that this happens.(In other words induce strong faith in her)."{This actually happened! S.Janaki never met Him or knew about Him.)He also liked other singers like P.Suseeela, Ghantasala,SPB and Yesudas.
6. One big poster of Dattatreya, bought roadside, which he kep stuck to the wall and reffered to Him often as 'Dattudu'.
7. Other items like fruits, flowers,vigrahas,yantras,srichakras,agarbatthis,etc never used to stay with him for more than a week.He used to do pujas on the request of people and give away the vigarahas and all the puja materials to the first person he used to see.
8. Sometimes he used to eat toabbaco but later in life he left it all of a sudden because one of Hid devotee--doctor said it is not good for him.He used to say "Accha!"("Good" in Hindustani). He said, "Accha! This is not good for me,ok from today I will leave it.Does this satisfy you Doctor?"The Doctor felt very happy and boasted before all that it was because of him that Guruvugaaru left the toabacco eating habit.Guruvugaaru for some strange reason used to allow him to boast before him if anyone else used to boast like that he used to cut them short or cut a joke on him to keep him in place.Consequently there used to be one bag of tobacco leaves(shredded) which was never used and was also disposed off after some years.
Other costly gifts like watches and perfumes(some devotees were innocent enough to think that he used perfumes) were instantly given before the eyes of the donor to someone else.
This is how He used to live.
His anger was that of a Volcano erupting.But it used to subside and He used to behave like nothing happened and started joking again or gossiping about the village matters.
Many of his devotees used to compare Him with Shirdi Sai Baba.He used to ask them, " Aaadu(Vaadu) evadraa? Nee Abba naa? Nee Ammaa naa?"{(Who is that? Is he your father or mother?(in a derogatory way).} Now this used to make some people really angry and shout back at him and abuse him verbally. Some even planned to kill Him.He used to never care for such pussilanimous pinpricks and used to brush them off as if brushing off a small grass blade fallen on one's dress while wading through the waters of a jungle.

When some people of sanguine dispoisition used to request Him to be more considerate in His remakrs toward big saints like Shirdi Sai Baba.He used to say,
"I know about Him. Do you know about Him? You do not know about anyone and come here and try to impress me with your half-baked knowledge about these things. If I cough now you will see three worlds and go in a mental-dizzy for years, this being so how can you even talk about Baba as if He is your jigir-dosth having no respect toward Him.He has become a commodity. Just look at Shirdi and the 5 star hotels. Baba would have beat them all with His satka.When I saked contemptuously "who is that is He your father or mother? If your faith was really strong and real you would have said humbly-"Yes He is my "Abba and Amma" but you fizzled out and kept quite, this itself shows how strong your bhakthi si toward Him.""And then He used to laughout loud and strong intespresing with "vedhavallaaara naaku neethulu  cheppadaaniki bayaldheraaru" (useless people have started to preach to me).  They could say nothing against this trend of argument. His mischief was also like that.He used to play pranks(leelas) sometimes practical pranks like appearing at two places at once and confusing people.These leelas too used to erupt now and then like mini-volcanoes.  He had contempt for ritualistic practices, never wore the scared thread (but encouraged others to wear it including shudras), gave powerful mantras to people He was pleased with,suddenly used to pour wine on srichakra for no reason but used to warn others not to do such things, used to frequest some smashanas(especially smashanas where two grounds met) and used to warn against such practices too and asked all to adopt Dakshinachara- samayachara, used to conduct blitzkreg tours in taxis of his devotees and twice by train of some punya kshetras but never left home in Anakapalli and later settled in His last days in Gopalapatnam near
Vizag.

He knew everything by sitting in his room about his disciples.He used to cry too sometimes. Once a woman (belonging to a wealthy Khamma-Chowdary community) came to Him and offered Her respects. He cried(literally tears) seeing Her and said, "What have you done?You dont know where your soul will go after your death" She replied, "What Guruvugaaru? " "I gave you the Chintamani Kamadhenu mantra right for a son?" She replied in affirmative. "What restrictions did I tell you to observe?" "Abstain from meat and alcohol" "What did you do Amma?" "I did not eat them" He looked to the ground and cried again.She was shivering with fright. He looked at His disciples and said, "Look at her.She is like my daughter.You don't know what she means to me. She is a mother herself though without a child and she lies to me when Im trying to help
her.This is Kaliyuga. Dattudu should save us!" One disciple tried to act smart and say something like , "It is her fate why do you cry....." .But other disciples silenced him by looks and warned him that Guruvugaaru would be angry. The lady protested against this 'accusation' and said vehemently, "No ayya I did not eat any meat." He looked at her sadly and said, "You went to the hotel in Vizag and took what?... of all the meats... some beef!" There was a pregnant pause. She looked down crestfallen and shameful. He continued, "That too while doing Kamadhenu mantra with beejas. Will The Mother cow approve of eating cow's meat? I did not want to embarrass you before other men but you have put words to my mouth(using a telugu colloqualism) . Stop doing the mantra and continue eating the beef and be happy, dont come
here." He then turned His head away from her. She begged him to show mercy and cried.He did not speak.She stayed the whole day and Guruvgaaru ordered her to get out.She stayed outside the house of Guruvugaaru on the streets for another day without food and crying! Her family members asked Guruvgaaru to take pity but he was unrelenting. On the tird day he came out and still saw her sitting there without food or water famished and with eyes reddened and puffed up by crying.He then said to Her gently, "Ok go! Never repeat it again and promise me that." She said, "I will not even eat eggs,garlic, onions and red chillies from now on"> He asked her to come near her, then out of nowhere took a dahrba and asked her to open her mouth and then showed the dharba for sometime in the sun and the dharba caught fire!!! and then placed the dharba on her tounge and drew a yantra and then said to her, "Now go" (He did the same to my father when he was young. my father had been to European countries and to Egypt in those days and had drunk some wine and champagne without knowledge") That lady gave birth to a beautiful boy and they nmed him "Simhalu"(which was the poorvasharama name of Guruvgaaru). This was his gentle side. Sometimes he used to behave in the most refined and gentle manner and sometimes harsher than a street-gangster. His stories are endless and one become mesmerized hearing about Him. And strangely as He predicted after his samadhi people take interest in him.It would not surprise me if His samadhi tombstone si edified like a monument and Gopalpatnam becomes another Shirdi.>He used to shout loud, "Naaku paadi kattina taruvaatha, nannu dattudu deggare' vadhileyyandi raa, Vedhavallaaraaa! "> (After I die leave me to Datta, you useless people). The shout rings in my ears as I types these last lines about the Avadhutha with the small pocket radio.

 - Shreeram Balijepalli

----------------------




Kathy Turiyamba: I had the great blessing of receiving Guru Garu’s darshan twice. Both times were in Vizag in his third floor room of his daughter’s house. I remember clearly the room; the pictures of Dattatreya hung high near the ceiling in every direction, the orange wooden platform bed where he seemed to never move from, the little buzzer on the wall bedside him which he would ring for his cup of coffee. Guru Garu sat on his orange bed, serene yet energetic, out-of-body, glowing a radiant amber glow with a smile on his face, intensely staring at me. I had the feeling that by looking at me he knew my past, present and future.
I was staying with Guruji and Amma in Devipuram. This was my first trip to Devipuram in October 1999. I remember asking Guruji and Amma what to bring Guru Garu as an offering. I thought someone told me that he likes nuts. Guruji Amma laughed and said that Guru Garu has no teeth so he would not eat nuts. Guruji told me that he really likes electronic gadgets, so I decided to give him my walkman. The only tapes I had with me were chanting tapes. Guruji asked if I had any Hindi film song tapes to give him which unfortunately I did not. So I decided to give him Aiya’s chanting on the Mantra IV tape which I was listening to every day. When I gave Guru Garu the walkman and told him that the tape was Haran Aiya chanting, Guru Garu seemed very happy and spoke very affectionately about Haran Aiya. I also remember both Guruji and Guruji-Amma each telling me separately before I visited Guru Garu not to ask him for anything. I did not know the reason for their saying this, but I followed the Guru’s words. When we entered Guru Garu’s room, we sat before him and meditated. He asked where I was from and I told him that I had come from the Rochester peetham in
America. We sat silently and he intensely starred at us. I looked back into his eyes and tried to empty my mind and remain open to receiving the energy of the moment. I had no clue what he was doing/thinking. He did some quick movements with his hands, perhaps mudras that I did not recognize. He knew we did not want to leave, so he said something like, "you can stay a little longer and meditate, but this body you are looking at is nothing". (Guruvugaaru in His senior days) He told a story of the picture hanging on his wall that a man took of the mountains, not knowing that Dattatreya was standing before him until the photograph was developed and Dattatreya’s image was visible. Eventually he motioned for us to leave and we head back down the narrow steps, through the small alley to the rickshaw and back to Devipuram. While I do not fully understand what happened that day, I have faith that this seemingly simple darhsan of Guru Garu, my Parameshta Guru, is a tremendous blessing.

------------

I met Gurugaru on my first trip to India in 1998, while visiting Sri Amritananda Saraswati (Guruji) and his wife AnnaPurna of Devipuram India. Guruji Suggested that we all go on a trip to the Araku Valley near Visakhapatnam india. He said on the way back we will stop in the village of Anakapalli and you can meet my Guru. Guruji and Amma said to me, “whatever you do don’t ask Gurugaru for anything”! I would later come to know that if people asked Gurugaru for mundane, materialistic and or selfish requests, that it could horribly go wrong. 

Guruji said “we will tell him you just are there for his darshan and blessings”. We all had a wonderful time in the Araku Valley and arrived at nighttime in Anakapalli where we all went into a room where I first met Gurugaru. Meeting him was something out of a fairytale (dressed in only a orange loincloth), it seemed to me that he was something not of this world, like a magic wizard or supernatural being. His eyes were very intence, but calm, like deep pools of endless space. He allowed me to Videotape him as he went into several Yogic asanas. Gurugaru asked Guruji, “why has he come to see me” Guruji replied “he has only come to pay his respects and receive your blessings”. Over the years I was lucky enough to have several darshans, and film long discourses of Gurugaru performing Puja and talking with us for long periods at a time. He would often tell us secrets of our past lives, and also predict our future. We were told never to touch Gurugaru (since he was a sanyasi) unless he initiated it. On one occasion in Devipuram, Gurugaru gave me a full shaktipat diksha, slapping me several times along the top of my back. I felt he was always kind to me, and he really seemed to enjoy me filming him, during our visits. In fact I am the only one that ever filmed Guru garu from my knowledge. He said to me while filming, “I am blessing all the people in America that will watch this video” Till this day I feel his energy and darshan in the videos i took of him. Since I did not understand Telugu someone was always translating between us. I was always just very happy to be in his presence, I realized how special he was, a real mystic, that had attained great heights through tantric practices and sadhana. He lived very simply, I was very impressed by him and always looked forward to his darshan. I would come to love him as my parama Guru and knew he had blessed me on several occasions. In meditation and during puja, I feel his presence when I think of him. He was a great Yogi,(now a light being) and I often miss him. After his passing I wanted to go visit his Samadhi, and I sat in meditation there and felt the energy of this great sadhu.

- by William Thomas

 

I went along with Guruji and Guru-Amma to visit Avadhuta gurugaru at Anakapalle, While I remained outside, Guruji and Amma went inside the room, where Gurugaru was residing in. Even before he was informed of my visit, he called aloud 'Lalitha' and asked me to come inside. Then he took a tumbler of water and gave me the theertha saying that I have given you atma sanyasa. Guruji questioned Gurugaru, how can you give her sanyasam, since she is an householder, to which Gurugaru replied that he had given sanyasam to her soul.

- narrated  by Lalitha Aunty of Mumbai

--------------------

He used to have spirits under his control and used them, against anyone harming his devotees. He used to arrange for bali for them, by getting someone to die. 

 - Lalitha Aunty of Mumbai

Avadhuta Guru considered pratyangira devi as atharvana badra kali.

Gurugaru worshiped her as 2 vidyas one of 32 letters and the other of 42 letters which invoked Pratyangira as 1000 armed. He used to say : "She who holds the power of Narasimha her claws, the female equivalent of swamy. One must not chant her vidya for more than 108 times, least one becomes her!"
  
--------------------
 "We cannot say your future, you are a mahatma"

- A group of 3 astrologers, who were sought by Avadhuta Gurugaru and upon his request came to his residence and were asked to tell his future They refused, even when the king of paramahamsa avadhutas reassured them by saying 'I am only a sadhaka'.

Words of Guru Garu:

Digambara is an Avadhuta. Digambara doesn't mean leaving clothes or having only kaupinam, since even laborers wear it. Digambara means not having desire, not seeking happiness, not giving upanyasa (i.e. lecture), not accepting puja, not wearing accessories, not seeking fame
Then Avadhuta is not one having a paramahamsa who is having ashram, seeking biksha, donning the name of avadhuta, enjoying comforts of life.
Avadhuta is one who has no abhilasha (i.e. seeking) stree (women), dhanam (wealth), grha (house), kanaka, vastu (material things), vahana (vehicle), akhanda aishwaryam (great wealth)

- explaining the kramam of Digambara Avadhuta to a group of seekers who visited his residence in early 1990s


 --------------------


I do not want anything.There is no wish to earn money, I do not want the following of
people.I do not want to travel in vehicles, I am doing brahmopasana.I am meditating 24 hours I am not having any relation with anybody. If anybody merges the jeevatma with paramatma, he will get the brahmanandam. Now I am doing that only.

 --------------------

Keep your mind on paramatma.Behave in the samsara like water drops on the lotus leaf. Our life has a main goal and that is Moksha,for which you have to put my sayings in action and then you will attain moksha

  --------------------

Just because a beggar is naked or less clothes, he doesn't become a digambara, it is renunciation of desire

 --------------------

I do not know when I am going to get my next meal from Devi, how can I say your future. You, tell me my future

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta with a laugh, to a seeker who wanted to know his future
He had the powers, but he did not fall into the trap of this prediction making....

-------------------

They(evil spirits)do exist but if one's sadhana is strong and the Guru parampara is powerful you can be protected.
But beware of those evil in human forms, because they are the real devils who come to create trouble in this world. Most people have split personalities, hence beware.

 --------------------

Each mantra is the NadaRupa of the Devata and has life and intelligence. They act as guiding lights and do the nourishment and protection of the Sadhaka 
 

 --------------------

Kamakhya will not allow one to proceed further in spiritual path, if they have no faith in guru  

- while giving the mantra of Kamakya to a disciple

 --------------------

I take away the energy from the deity, when I visit temples  

 --------------------

Think of me, you will get blessings from Datta  

 --------------------

All the vedas, shastras, mantras, spiritual energies are their in paduka mantra

 --------------------


I received the maha maha paduka mantra from Dattatreya  



  --------------------

I am always with you
Think of me, I will be present

- Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta, giving this divine assurance to his disciple from kerala.

 

  --------------------

 

After my passing away, don't built memorial, temple, association in my name

- This was shared by his disciple from kerala.  
 
  --------------------

I am Shiva myself and taking a life or giving life doesn't matter much 

- in reply to questioning by Devipuram Guruji, on why he performed a prayogam upon request by a seeker  

--------------------

The Guru will never forsake the disciple who has surrendered

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta, who had commented to his disciple from kerala, about what would happen during conflicts such as nuclear wars..


--------------------

It seems you are destined to build a temple. Yesterday, in my meditation, a little girl came to me and asked me why are you coming in the way of this fellow. She insisted that I give the green signal to you, to go ahead with building the temple. Its a big task, it requires lot of help, help will come in the way. I am going to give you all the energy from my spiritual sadhana to go ahead with the job. 

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta to Devipuram Guruji
--------------------
 

Avadhuta gurugaru commenting on his own greatness:

What is there, I am there also!

(when disciples used to tell him, they went to so and so temple)

 --------------------

I am their,even after passing away and will help those, who need me!

--------------------

Do not discuss about your Guru nor your spouse with others

- courtesy of disciple who used to be with Gurugaru for nearly 3 years in close proximity

 --------------------

Comments of Avadhuta gurugaru on different deities:

Datta 
I received maha maha padukam from Datta.

Always chant, whenever you are traveling, no rules apply

(referring to the eka akshara vidya)

Mahashodashi

It is the highest, greatest of all srividya mantras. You can chant it anytime.

Dakshina kali

All desires are fulfilled by chanting her vidya

Pratyangira

It's better not to do

Narasimha

It gives you protection

--Sri Swaprakashanda theertha Avadhuta to his direct disciple Sri Siddhananda Natha from Nizamsagar, Andhra Pradesh

------------------

He has attained success. He has darshanam of Devi. He is the most excellent of my disciples

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta  on Devipuram Guruji, praising the latter in front of his disciples 

 --------------------

 If you want to do any upasana of a mantra from a particular book, you can see and do so now, without requiring diksha

 --------------------

At the time of chanting maha maha paduka, sanaka,sananda,saptharshis,maruds,yoginis,33 crore devathas,aswini, will bless ,no doubt at all

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta on glory of his own paduka mantra

 --------------------

Interesting comments by Avadhuta gurugaru:

Everyone can chant lalitha sahasranamam, no diksha required. This is how it's being done nowadays

How is it navakshari? when om is added to it

(referring to a query, whether om can be added to chandi navakshari)

Who is this Sai baba?

(when a disciple mentioned about shirdi sai baba)

Who will give you food to eat?

(When a disciple wanted to practice many mantras, whereby time would be spent, instead of earning money to support oneself and family)

Don't do it in a hurry

(Preferring a steady upasana to get siddhi)

Dattatreya raksha raksha

(hinting at protection that Datta can offer to seekers)

I do not know anything about it

(usual comment, when seekers used to ask about certain vidyas, which the great Guru, preferred to keep mum)

courtesy of  Sri Siddhananda natha, who spent couple of years in close physical proximity with the emperor of Avadhutas at Anakapalli

 --------------------

At any time, I would quit this body. Time is over, for me. I have got moksha. Their is nothing for me to do now.

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta, sharing this with Sri Siddhananda natha, one month before he quit his mortal coil exactly at the time when Guru poornima commenced

 --------------------

See in Guru.

Everything is situated in Guru.

Guru can do anything, if he chooses to do so.

No God other than Guru.

Their are several crore mantras in the Guru.

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta to  Sri Siddhananda natha, when he met the King of Avadhutas for the first time during the year 1990

 --------------------

Do not go anywhere, Grihastashrama is the best of all ashramam. Do tapas thru atma yoga

(Context: When the disciple sought permission to do penance in some hilly caves)

No, no, srividyam santham murtheem, sakala suranutham, sarva sampath pradateem

(Context: When the disciple observing the Great Guru, offering sandalwood paste mixed with water to srichakra, made the comment 'Are you doing this to pacify the ugra form of Durga)

 --------------------

In vamachara, Mamsa and madhu is taken directly, but in samayacharam, anything offered in copper/brass utensil becomes madyam, mamsa is coconut powder in kanchya utensil, madhu is self control, mudra is dasha mudras and mantram is the mantras given by the Guru

- courtesy of Sri Siddhananda natha 

 --------------------

Attach the mind with atma, that is maithunam

 --------------------

I made havan my all belongings, Now I am in avadhutha deeksha.But my disciples are following the great gruhasthasram,and they are doing upasana by following the rules.

You are suggested to study the Avadhutha githa,Gnana vasishtham, Bhagavad gita,Brahma sutras mainly the upanishads.

Before going to bed,u have to think seriously the 4 maha vaakyas, think why you had been born,what is your goal, again and again. I am repeating,keep belief on my words-do japam,meditation and grantha pathanam.

After the falling of this body also, I will be with you.I will help you in brahmopasana. Upasana looks like easy but to reach the goal is hard. 

Do not waste your time. Wake up soon.

 --------------------

I will hand over that veena to a vainic, a veena artist. when the artist touches the wires of veena,then his poverty will also run away.

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta, when questioned by a disciple, on why did the great guru, ask another disciple (who was very poor), to procure a veena instrument

 --------------------

I like very much the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ,the way of thinking and sampradaya. The books published by Sri Ramakrishna math are standard. I would suggest to study well

 --------------------

7 crore mantras are born from the lotus feet of Dattatreya 

 --------------------

Do japa day and night ,although you are in your work,I will look after you

A person have to depend on wife for vedic rituals only, But for moksha ,he has to depend on his own sadhana

 --------------------

A mantra taken from a guru only gives good results
We must follow the path which guru shows
Expecting a guru to give away the results of his sadhana, to his disciples is unwise
  
--------------------

Their are many wicked people during these times, do her japam for protection

Kalidasa and Ramakrishna paramahamsa did her upasana a lot and got siddhi. Even you doing her upasana, can become famous like them.

Datta and kali gives quick siddhi in kali yuga

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta  on Dakshina kalika 

--------------------

Avadhutha Gurugaru was advising the seekers to not to leave japam under at any circumstances.

"Do japam as far as possible. The mantra devata will protect the upasaka like a mother to her child"

Among his disciples there are some Christians and Muslims also.

Avadhuta Gurugaru also said that he was following the method of Sriramanujan( uttering mantra loudly to the crowd from the top of the temple shikhara) he said that if we keep secret ,after some years nobody will be there to japam. We have to protect the japa culture.( yagnanam japa yagnosmi---Bhagavadgitha)

--------------------

Contemplate on everything as Parabrahman, what was even before the entire creation, that nothingness

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha Avadhuta to his direct disciple from Kerala

-------------------- 

I do not want to think or discuss of others

(context:when some visitors used to ask him to comment on some personalities)  

--------------------

Keep belief on my words-do japa,meditation and grantha pathanam (study of scriptures).after the falling of this body also I will be with you. I will help you in brahmopasana (meditation on nirguna brahman). Upasana looks easy but to reach the goal is hard. Do not waste your time, wake up soon

-------------------- 

There are no Gods above me

-Sri Swaprakashananda theertha digambara paramahamsa avadhuta, revealing his own state of residing in vast ocean of Nirguna Brahman

-------------------- 

It is sarvadharam (all pervading),sarvakarana (all causation) and mahavakyas cannot be without it.

It is the 4 vedas.

It is the tejas (luminosity) of the jiva (soul) giving praksha (illumination) to the paramatman (supreme soul).

It is brahma jyothi (light of lights)

It is present in shetaja,andaja, udbija and jadaja (4 types of creations).

The creator give hunger to soul through it.

It is present in all

Through it, the pancha butas (5 elementals) came into existence

- Sri Swaprakashananda theertha digambara paramahamsa avadhuta  on glory of 'OM'

-------------------- 

Samadhi of Guru Garu

Only when you have raised yourself to Avadhuta state, can you recognise another Avadhuta 

--------------------

Just because a beggar is naked or less clothes, he doesn't become a digambara, it is renunciation of desire that makes one a digambara 

--------------------

She is destroyer of enemies 

-  on the Deity- Chandika

--------------------

One must immerse in ones own soul instead of dipping in Ganga 

--------------------

He did not need my help

-  on (one of) his favourite disciple- Devipuram Guruji, regarding his equally great disciple climbing to summit of nirvikalpa samadhi