Sri Bhuvananandanatha Gurumandala Seva Samajam

Brahmasri Subrahmanya Saastry, a Telugu Brahmana, lived in the 19 th century at Chathram, Valangaimaan, near Kumbhakonam, Tamilnadu. He was a reputed Vedic Scholar and earned the title of “Deekshithar”. He was initiated into Srividya along with his wife and got Poornabhisheka Deeksha with the Deeksha name of Sri Divyaanandanaatha. After many years as Saadhaka he took Sanyaasa and attained Sripura Sayujya (passed away). His samaadhi is on the banks of “Kudamurutti” a tributary of River Kaveri in Valangaiman and his illustrious & senior sishya Sri Bhuvanaanandanatha built an Adhishtaana Aalayam (Temple) and installed Siva Linga there.

Brahmasri Krishnamoorthy Saastry alias Krishna Sastrigal was the son of Sri Bhaskara Saastry & Smt. Lakshmi Ammal of Tipparaajapuram Near Valangaimaan, Kumbhakonam. He is both a reputed Samskrit &Vedic Scholar. He & his wife Smt. Meenaakshi Ammal of Soolamangalam, Thiruvaaroor got Srividya Poornabhisheka Deeksha from Sri Divyaanandanaatha of Valangaiman and became very famous as Sri Bhuvanaanandanatha the Deeksha naama conferred on him. He stayed for about 7 years at Shankara Mutt, Kumbhakonam and was the “Manthra Guru” to Jagadguru Sri Sri Sankaraachaarya (Paramacharya) of Kanchi Kaamakoti Peetam when the Achaarya was young. He was honoured with the title of “Manthra Moorthy”.

He did “Tapasya” for 8 years at Oottuppaarai, Kerala & Gwalior and he performed miracles spontaneously. He spent his later portion of his life in doing Sisroosha (service) & seva to his Guru Divyaanandanaatha. At his guru’s demise he performed the last rites in a fitting manner worthy of a great Srividya Upaasaka & Guru and also befitting his Sanyaasa Ashrama as laid down in the scriptures. He showed his devotion & high regard for his Guru by constructing an imposing *Adhishtaana Aalayam (Temple) at his Samaadhi in Valangaiman and installed Siva Linga there. He lived a life of an ascetic and was personally looking after the Temple doing poojaas to the Adhishtaanam. He attained Sripura Sayujya in the year “Sarvadhaari”, Uttharaayanam, Makara (Thai) Maasam, Sukla Paksha Navami (passed away on 26-1-1949) after getting aapathsanyaasam. His Adhishtaanam also was built near his Guru in the same Temple.

Smt. Naagamma was born in 1898 at Neelakkudi, village in Thiruvidaimarudoor, Thanjavoor district. She married Sri Krishnaswamy and had one female child named Smt. Janaki. She excelled even from her young age by her devotion to God, spiritual intent and had the fortune of good company (Satsangh) and darshan of Swamy Vivekaananda, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Annaamalai Swamy, Sri Saanthaananda Swamy, Sri Viswanaatha Swamy and many other great souls. After the demise of her husband she took Srividya Upaasana and got Poornabhisheka Deeksha from Sri Bhuvanaanandanatha. Her Deeksha name is Sri Bhaghavathyamba and she steadfastly devoted herself to Srividya and had many Sishyaas. She passed away on Krishna Paksha Ekaadasi day in Kanya maasa (Purattaasi), 19 th September 1978. In her memory a Sivalinga is installed in the same temple.

Srimathi Saraswathi & Sri Mayooranaathan of West Maambalam, Chennai were the disciples of Sri Bhaghavathyamba and were in Srividya Samayaachara maarga for more than 50 years. They were blessed with Maha Shodasi Manthropadesa, Maha Paaduka & Poornaabhisheka Deeksha about fifty years ago and were conferred with Deeksha names of Sri Vimarsaambika Sametha Sri Vimarsaanandanaatha. They had been worshipping ‘Sri Lalitha Maha Thripura Sundari’ and were doing regular poojaas to ‘Sri Kameswari’ idol installed in their house and devoted to the noble cause of Srividya Upaasana & Pooja even though they had a sizable family to look after. The celebrations of their ‘Sashtiabda Poorthi’ and ‘Bheemaratha Shanthi’ were memorable events.

In spite of her preoccupation with fulfilling her daily duties to the family, Sri Vimarsaambika’s contribution to ‘Srividya Marga” was really stupendous. In addition Navaavarana Poojaas with “Paatrasaadhana “ & “Visesha Arghya” on Parvaas & Navaraathri days, she had done ‘Koti Archana’ with Sri Lalitha Sahasranaama and ‘Sahasra Bhojana Vaibhavam’ three times. She had initiated nearly thousand persons into “Srividya” and had given ‘Poornaabhisheka Deeksha’ to many of the ‘sishyas’. Our Guruji Sri Madanaanandanaatha (Brahmasri K. Anantharaama Saastry alias K. Mohan Guruji,) is one of the senior, illustrious & dedicated sishyas she had.

With the blessings of ‘Kanchi Paramacharya’, she performed ‘Sri Lalitha Sahasaranaama Homam’ with 16 ‘Rithviks’ and 16 ‘Dravyam’. She was one of the main sishyas of ‘Paramacharya’ who had the boon to get his blessings in full. She established a Samithi named ‘Kameswari Suvasini Mandali’ and performed many ‘Suvasini Poojas’ and ‘Navaavarana Poojas’. Even today we can have the ‘Darshan’ of ‘Kameswari’ idol in her house, which was blessed by ‘Paramacharya’ spreading its lustre. She organized and deposited a life fund in the Kanchipuram Kamakshi Amman temple to perform ‘Thangaratha Utsavam” - Procession of Sri Kaamaakshi Devi adorned in Golden Chariot every year during Navaraathri. On Makara Sankraanthi day she dedicated a garland of gold coins to “Devi Visaalaakshi Ambal’ and a Silver Bilwa garland to Lord Vishwanaatha of Maambalam Kasi Viswanaatha temple. She had performed many poojas in Ellai Amman temple, Triplicane and conducted ‘Utsavams’ in Kaama Kala Kaameswari temple, Triplicane. She attained ‘Videha Kaivalyapadam’ on Amavasya day in Dhanurmaasam (Margazhi Month) in the year 1996.

The Samaajam came into existence on 26th January, 1999 and was formed as a Trust with 6 (SIX) trustees of which Sri K.Anantharama Sastrigal alias Sri K. Mohan Guruji is the Managing Trustee. On that day, after the performance of Guru Araadhana to Sri Bhuvanaanandanaatha in the Temple, Our Guruji formed a Samaajam with the name of his Parameshti Guru Sri Bhuvanaanandanaatha. On the same day decision was taken by Guruji to Renovate the Temple and perform Kumbhaabhishekam before the ensuing Guru Poornima / Vyaasa Pooja.

By the Grace of Gurumandala Swaroopini Sri Lalitha Maha Thripurasundari and our Gurus and with the help & assistance of the members of our Samithi & our Guruparampara and a few others in the line of Srividya reconstruction, renovation & improvements of the Temple including gopurams, front elevation, flooring, roofing etc., were carried out within a short span of time and Kumbhaabhishekam of the “ Sri Bhuvanaanandanaatha Gurumandala Adhishtaana Aalayam” (Temple) was performed on 28th. June 1999.

On that occasion a book in Tamil named "SRI SOWBHAAGYAVIDYA PANCHADASAAKSHARI MAALA " was released. Mandalaabhishekam & Special Pooja was also done. The Paaduka ( wooden footwear) of Sri Bhuvanaanandanaatha was brought to Madras and was adorned with silver plating (Kavacham) and Lakshaarchana was done and Archana is continued every year from the Gurupoornima (Vyasa Pooja) day.

A separate FUND for maintaining the Temple was established and an amount of Rs. 1000 /- (One thousand only) was collected from sishyas and persons belonging to Guruparampara numbering 123. The total amount was deposited in a Bank and the monthly interest received is used to maintain the Temple and to do Daily Pooja , Lighting Deepam, Nivedyam etc.,. With the addition persons from time to time the total is nearing 200. It is proposed to collect funds for Special Abhishekam, Pooja and Annadaanam on every Pournami day. Also all sishyas and persons belonging to Guruparampara are invited to join so that adequate corpus is kept for the maintenance and peformance of daily poojas etc.,.