Sri Sadguru Shantananda Brahmendra Saraswatyavadutha Mahaswamigal, fondly called as Sadguru Sri Shantananda Mahaswamigal is from the divine and illustrious Guru Parampara, of Sri Sadashiva Brahmendra Mahaswamigal, Nerur.
Sri Swayamprakasa Brahmendra Saraswathyavadhutha Mahaswamigal is the Guru of Sri Shantananda Swamigal.
Sri Shantananda Swamigal was the founder of the Sri Bhuvaneswari Peetham in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India. The very embodiment of Prema, Sri Swami Santhananda was the fountainhead of Sanatana Dharma and Vedic principles.
In his lifetime he had conducted several Yagnas as elucidated in the Sastras and challenged orthodoxy by bringing to light, guarded Moola Mantras that ensure common good, wealth and peace.
He was born as the tenth child to the devout Brahmin couple Sri Ramaswami and Smt Yogambal in Azhagapuri village, Madurai and named Subramanyam.
Kattikulam Sootukkol Sri Mayandi Swamigal - a famous ascetic of that time had predicted his birth and had said that he would be a man of action for the welfare of the world and a devotee of Jaganmatha Sri Bhuvaneshwari.
Subramanyam studied at Naganathapuram Veda Patasala where he became well versed in the Vedas.
At the early age, he was drawn towards the Gandhian movement for Independence of India. He concentrated his activities on village uplift and for the poor. He was imprisoned in Alipore Jail for his involvement in the independence struggle. In Alipore he studied the teachings of Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
From Alipore he went to Madurai and met Mayandi Yogi who initiated him in the Bhuvaneswari Mantra. He was also advised to remain silent, to exist on alms, and not to stay at a place for long.
While travelling he heard a voice commanding him to go to Sendhamangalam, where a Guru was waiting for him.
He reached Sendhamangalam and had the Darshan of Sri Swayamprakasa Brahmendra Saraswatyavadhuta Maha Swamigal and requested that he be accepted as a disciple.
Swamiji gave his consent and admitted him to the Avadhuta order and gave him a new name Shantananda.
On his Guru’s directions, Sri Shantananda Swamigal undertook the renovation of the Samadhi of Sri Judge Swamigal at Pudukkottai. This Samadhi was established by Swayamprakasa Swamigal in 1936.
Sri Swamigal, after coming to Pudukkottai in the 1940s, lead a life observing the various austerities, like Mauna Vratam, Karataka Bhiksha, etc
Devotees used to come in large numbers, attracted by his Tapobalam and Tejas.
Sri Swamigal was a great exponent of Shaktha Upasana.
By invoking the Mantras innumerable times, he strengthened the Divine power of Jaganmatha Sri Bhuvaneswari. He made many realize the Divinity of the Jaganmatha, by helping them surmount their difficulties.
Sri Swamigal renovated the Samadhi and a Kumbabhishekam was conducted in 1956. This is now in Sri Bhuvaneswari Peetham.
Initially Sri Swamigal had a picture and a panchaloka vigraha of Jaganmatha for worship. Eventually in the year 1962, he consecrated in the Adhistanam of Sri Judge Swamigal, in a traditional Vaidhika sampradaya, an all-powerful granite vigraha of Jaganmatha, which is facing south.
Sri Swamigal performed “Hreem” japa for more than five crore times before the 1962 consecration of the Peetham.
Since then, the Divine Grace of Jaganmatha and the Tapas grace of Guru Parampara are being felt by all.
Over the past several years, Sri Swamigal has also installed and consecrated the Sannadhis of Sri Abhishta Varada Mahaganapathi, Sri Pancha Mukha Heramba Mahaganapathi, Sri Pancha Mukha Viswakarma, Sri Pancha Mukha Anjaneya, Sri Dharmasastha, Sri Jnanaskandan, Sri Dakshinamurthi, Sri Dakshina Kali, Sri Kasi Viswanthar and Sri Porpanai Muniswarar.
Sri Swamigal also established Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi deity at Skandhashramam, Salem. This was established in 1968, on top of a small hill near Salem. The other main deity is Sri Skanda Nathar.
Sri Swamigal also established Om Sri Skandashramam, in 1999 in Raja Kilpakkam near Chennai.
Sri Swamigal who graced all, by the performance of countless number of Yagnas, and various methods of worship, attained Mahasamadhi on May 27, 2002.
Sri Swamigal’s Adhistanam is in Salem Skandashram.