Sri Madvirat Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy Biography

SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

The Message

A sincere review of the life and work as also the ideals and message of Sri Veerabrahmendra, no doubt, inspires people.

He was basically a yogi. His ‘Sajeeva Samadhi, (entry into grave alive) was a proof of his modest exercises in Yoga. His precepts were all pre-practised as he believed that precept without practice had no effect.

The yoga of Veerabrahmendra has been dealt with in the previous chapter in detail. In this concluding chapter, I would only touch upon the salient points of his universal message,

The Swami’s spiritual pursuit was linked with social reform. He believed that distinctions based on caste, creed, sex, religion should not be barriers for possession of spiritual wisdom and knowledge. His very selection of Siddayya, a Muslim boy (originally named Shaik Saheb) and Kakkayya, a panchama as his chief disciples, prove the fact that Veerabrahmam was above caste and creed. He did not care for the undue criticism leveled against him by his contemporaries. He went to the extent of teaching the Holy scriptures of Hinduism even to Muslim rulers of those days. His endeavours in this regard bore fruit in influencing them to be more tolerant and large-hearted towards other religious faiths and beliefs.

He knew very well that even in Hinduism there were a number of factions and sects. Vaishnavism was stoutly opposed to Saivism and vice-versa

Veerabrahmam stood between the two and embraced them with both the hands. A Hindu Smarts is basically a Saivite, but never hesitates to respect a Vaishnavite. This is one kind of religious tolerance in its own sectarian sphere. Vaishnavism was made popular by the twelve Alwars whose universal love attracted all human beings irrespective of caste. The Biography of Adi Sankara reveals that he equally respected a chandala and a dwija (Panchama and a Brahmin) without any distinction. Prior to Adi Sankara the great Tiruvalluvar of Tamilnadu taught the noble tenets of common brotherhood to all people.