Sri Siddharoodha Swami

Swami Siddharoodha (1837 - 1929 )

Swami Siddharoodha was a wandering advaita yogi. He considered all people equal, he disregarded the caste system that existed during those times

Siddharoodha is one of the least known among the most illumined souls. From Childhood he showed characters of spiritual maturity. He has been an inspiration to many spiritual seekers and guide to all those who saught his help. 

His remarkable stories offer great help to  spiritual seekers on conduct and right perspective. He was a true sage in a rather deceiving appearance. His supreme wisdom, simplicity and humility make him special.

Name: Siddha (at birth), later Siddharoodha swami or Siddharoodha Bharati

Birth: On the day of Ramanavami, 26th March, 1836

Death: 21st August 1929

Guru: Gajadanda Swami

Mother: Deva Mallamma

Father: Sri Guru Shantappa

Place of Birth: Chaalakaapura, BidariKote, Karnataka

Siblings: 2 brothers (names unknown)

Childhood Years :

Story Of Birth

One morning Guru Shantappa had a dream, in which Lord Shiva appeared to him in the form of an ascetic and merged into his heart. Guru Shantappa joyously shared his dream with his wife. Who in turn told her husband of her dream in which Godess Saraswati appeared and informed her of the birth of Lord Shiva in her womb.

After thirteen days of birth, the baby boy was named 'Siddha' which means an already perfected soul. 

Story of Sesame and Jaggery Incident

 One day when Siddha was five years old, he was playing outside the house with his friends. On the day of Sankranti he took his friends home along with him, he looked for the pot containing the mixture of sesame and jaggery and broket it with a stick when he found it hanging.

He gave it to all his friends who were there, and many more who came, when people saw kids carrying sesame and jaggery from little Siddha's house, they too went and brought back some sweet mixture.

Siddha's mother entered the kitchen and saw what was happening and expressed her surprise "how is it possible my son that you are  distributing so small amount of sweet to so many people".

Siddha silenced her saying "mother it is because of your greatness, you are the pure form of god and you have his powers and you are timeless, this is your greatness"

Siddha had such powers even when he was a child.

Story of  Buffalo

One day when Siddha was still a boy, when he was walking with his friends he found a buffalo and jumped on its back, "I am a king, this is my elephant" told he to his friends. They were all acting as if they were his servents. He commanded his elephant "Move forward my elephant". But it wouldn't budge.

"So you are too arrogant, then you die" said Siddha. The buffalo fell down and died. Other kids ran to Siddha's mother and told her what had happened. She came running to see her pregnant buffalo dead. She started crying for the death of her dear buffalo. Siddha moved his hand over the buffalo's back, life came and back and the buffalo stood up.

Finding his GURU :

Siddha's parents wouldn't let him go out of their house, he knew he had to find a capable guru, one day by his yogic power he created a serpent, it bit him, Siddha started cryling loud in pain, his parents came running to see their son having bitten by a snake. They started praying for the life of their son, a saint who was passing by heard them and assured them of saving their son only if they agree to let him go find his guru. His parents agreed, the saint started chanting mantras, in a short while the snake came and sucked the poison out of Siddha.

Siddha left his home to find his guru, after wandering for sometime he arrived at at the ashram of Gajadanda swami and identified him to be a true guru, he bowed down to him with respect and begged to take him as his disciple. 

Gajananda Swami took him as his disciple, at first Gajadanda swami gave him small chores and hard labor to test the truthfulness of his quest. Later his guru taught him higher practices like listening and contemplating to the higher knowledge.

Swami Gajananda swami understood the higher degree of Swami Siddha's consciousness and renamed him 'Parama Siddharoodha Bharati'. Parama because of his higher level of consciousness, Aroodha because of his spiritually ascended state. 

Knowing Siddharoodha was ready to travel the country and teach people about true Knowledge, his Guru told him to travel the lengths and breadths of country teaching Advaita. Siddharoodha swami wandered the country teaching whenever he saw somene capable to understand.

Last Years

Siddharoodha's disciples established a math at Hubli, Karnataka. There he taught many seekers, helped them ascned spiritually. He ended his life in the math in the month of August of 1929.

Now there are around 300 Maths in India and outside which are following his teachings

Siddharoodha's notable disciples

• Sri Gurunatharudha Swamy
• Kabirdas
• Jayakrishna
• Shyamananda of Gokak
• Akkalakote Sharanappa
• Nagabhushana Shivayogi
• Ramaroodha
• Shanmukharoodha
• Channappa
• Kalavati Devi

Source :http://aumamen.com/biography/sri-siddharoodha-swami

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