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In Search of Trailanga Swami of Benares

By Amarpal Malhi | Published 07/6/2008
Category: Saints and Gurus
Article Viewed 4682 Times
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Tailanga [also called Trailanga] Swami is spoken of with reverence, awe and almost with fear in the city of Benaras. As we ask for directions to his temple, the people we speak to display all three emotions. Who was Tailanga Swami? Was he really superhuman or an incarnation of Lord Vishwanath (Shiva) as they claim? The sceptic in us perks up for the first time.

The story goes that when Ramkrishna Paramhansa came to Benaras, he met Swamiji, to whom he mentioned his desire to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple. But as time was running out, he concluded that it would perhaps not be possible. As he said this and turned around to leave, there stood, instead of Swamiji, Lord Vishwanath himself! After this divine sighting, Ramkrishna became a lifelong disciple of Tailanga Swami.

As we sit down to chat with the Tailanga Swami Temple priest, he tells us that Swamiji was originally from Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Born in 1607, Tailanga Swami travelled extensively after his mother’s death. At times living out of cremation grounds, he appeared in Kashi somewhere in mid 1730’s immediately capturing the public’s imagination with superhuman feats like remaining submerged in the Ganga for more than 48 hours, lifting statues of deities weighing nearly a thousand kgs and travelling for miles etc.

The story goes that one day the King of Kashi had come to the ghats for bathing along with his wives, who were taking a bath in a private enclosure. And suddenly Tailanga Swami appeared from under the water in the cordoned off area causing much commotion. The miffed King ordered Tailanga Swami to be whipped mercilessly, but later the marks were found on the body of the King’s son. This was the time when reverence for him had turned to awe in Kashi where he lived for more than 150 years.

During this time he shunned public contact. As the temple priest says, “Tailanga Swami had five disciples during his stay in Kashi who were instructed to not take on any disciples of their own.” This was Tailanga Swami at his reclusive best. In fact he had announced beforehand the exact date he would attain nirvana. A month earlier, he personally supervised the setting up of his idol. On the due date, he took Samadhi (meditation unto death) directly under it.

Even today as we walk down the twisted, narrow lanes of Benaras toward an obscure corner which houses his Temple, the people with a tinge of the same fear tell us, that it is impossible to look at Swamiji’s idol for too long. Upon reaching we find that they’re right. With huge intimidating eyes Swamiji looks at you with a piercing gaze that makes it almost impossible to even glance back at this saint who, many say, still walks the earth.

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10 Comments
 
Mal Shridhar Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingempty ratingempty Unrated
said this on 06 Jul 2008 7:07:00 PM EST
We should judge people by the way they spread love not fear. What is God, if she or he cannot encourage tolerance and generosity.

 
S.K.Sundararajan Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingempty ratingempty ratingempty Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 12:05:28 AM EST
Mr Mal Shridhar,
I think that this type of humanistic approach is a little narrow, we need to broaden ourselves, there is a need to come out of all conditioning, even humanism to transcend to the next level, one's action may not have an intention to invoke fear in the others, but it is the duty of the other person not to get scared, who's onus.

 
Nina Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull Unrated
said this on 06 Jul 2008 8:21:35 PM EST
thankyou, an inspiring and awesome swami. would like to know more, about his parents, his guru,his travels.

 
Gopal Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingempty ratingempty Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 12:19:51 AM EST
Trilinga Swami's life history - his poorvashrama, initiation, samadhi etc. should have been included in the article.

 
Sundar Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingempty Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 4:30:57 AM EST
Trailanga Swami was a great Mahapurusha who lived in India and blessed it. His towering stature and greatness finds mention in many many books. People consider him as an Avatar of the Shivji of Kashi.(Kasi Vishwanath). Jai Trailanga Swami ki Jai. Thanks for this nice article

 
Govinda Das Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 10:23:06 AM EST
Srila Prabhupada spoke of this saint: "There was a saintly person in Benares, Trailanga Baba. So he was practiced to sit naked in the public road. So government objected that "You cannot sit naked here." So he did not speak. So he was arrested and taken to the custody and put into the jail. He again came out. He again came out. So these are yogic, I mean to say, perfection. Anything you like... The most perfect yogi can create even one planet. They become so powerful."

 
Vijaya kumar Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 10:24:01 AM EST
Thank you, i really appreciate th ework you have done... it would be great to see more writings in this way... Generally everywhere we find according to what we are looking for, for ex, If we are looking for beauty, we can find anywhere and everywhere.
I'm thankful,
Namasthe.

 
sanjit kumar biswal Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingempty ratingempty Unrated
said this on 07 Jul 2008 11:14:33 AM EST
he is incarnation of lord shiva.

 
V M Ramkumar Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull Unrated
said this on 08 Jul 2008 2:45:19 AM EST
For the readers, let me tell a very important SECRET of this Siddapurusha ! He attained JeevaSamadhi in Madurai, Tamilnadu after he travelled from Banares to Rameswaram and He is also called as "Sri Kulandaiananda Swami" fondly by people living in Madurai before his contemplation and merged with Supreme being while playing with Kids in this Temple town of Madurai. Those who would like to visit his temple can get down at Madurai Main bus stand and take an auto for a place called ARASARADI (spell ARASA RADI) ! They may charge Rs.75 to Rs.100/- you can ask for Kulandai Anandha temple. Yes, you have reached His place !!!

 
sridhar Rating: ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull ratingfull Unrated
said this on 13 Aug 2008 4:08:20 PM EST
I bet you should be able to look at the Swamiji's status, if you have the ability to develop unconditional and pure love towards anyone and everyone in this world.

Afterall, is there anyone in this GOD's creation, as well as the GOD thyself, who cannot yield to the universal Love where in, you donot find any difference between self and others. The terror aspect of GOD, as depicted in some Idols like Kali mata, Durga Mata and the weapons shown in the Hands of Lord Krishna or Lord Rama, are a symbol of the one of the aspect of the ALL PERVADING DIVINITY. YES. EVEN FEAR IS ONE ASPECT OF THE GOD. THIS ASPECT OF GOD COMES OUT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL DOESNOT LIVE BY THE UNIVERSAL LAWS AND ABUSES SENSES AND CAUSES TROUBLES TO OTHERS, FOR THOSE THIS TERROR ASPECT IS AN ANSWER.

But, the best way to overcome the terror aspect of GOD, is by way of Unconditiona Love toward ALL PERVADING GOD, which means developing unconditional love towards others, self, towards animals, towards plants, towards everything in this creation with the view that it is GODs will that is powering everything in this world.


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