SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

As the society had become corrupt, particularly in the social and religious spheres of life, the two saint-poets vehemently reacted in an unsparing manager against the evil, spreading around them. That was how the saint-poets turned social and religious reformers and tried to given the common man a code of moral conduct, irrespective of caste and creed.

The priestly class of Hindus, as well as Muslims, did not relish the indulgence of the these reformers and at one stage condemned them outright and went to the extent of calling them mad men. Veerabrahmam was called “Verri Veeranna” While Vemana was called “Verri Vemana.” The two reformers admitted that they were mad but mad, after reforming the mad.

Veerabrahmam was of the firm belief that unless the priestly class of the people reconciled, it was impossible for different castes of the people to co-exist. The religious rites and ritualistic practices always stood in the way. Veerabrahmam had all the respect for righteous living and ethical norms promulgated by the sacred scriptures on broad principles of universal love. But he condemned outright the narrow minded angularities of the priestly class.

In One of his mystic songs he made it clear thus:

“Unknown are the do’s and dont’s of Veda

Even to the wisest who perform the Yajna”

“With all their wisdom’, Veerabrahmam Complains, the sinner in them is till ville.

Vemana has a similar complaint against the so called wise.

“Though he should daily read or hear The Vedas,the sinner still is ville”

He revolted against the rituals of the high – born whose hearts were not pure. He put a direct question to them.

“Why all the rituals when their hearts, in sin rot? Of what use is worship when hearts are not pure”?

Veerabrahmam goes a step further and puts a still more direct question, instructing them to turn their minds to the practice of yoga.

“Should they not initiate the inner fire in steady posture of yoga, For, they claim to be of the highest birth?

Veerabrahmam had definite ideas about idol worship.

He says that one should worship the supreme spirit with self realization, but worshipping the insignificant stones is foolish. Vemana also condemns idolatry. When the mind cannot be fixed on the supreme inner light what is the use of searching for thousand lights illuminating the external world?