History
Padagacheri Swamigal
In a land of saints and savants was born Padagacheri Ramalinga swamigal in the 20th century. Because of his affinity to dogs and their implicit obedience to his instructions, he was also called Bairava Siddar – the Dog Monk.
He did not give elaborate sermons. He did not set up any big Ashram. He preferred simple living, devotion to God and service to people. He advocated it to all his disciples who came from varies walks of life.
More than that, he dared what many of his stature would have hesitated very much. A saint without any means, he took up the renovation of the big Nageshwararan Temple in Kumbakonam. All he did was collecting money from ordinary people by going round Kumbakonam town and neighborhood with a hundial hung from his neck.
He accepted even quarter anna (in those days an anna was one–sixteenth of a rupee) Apart from collecting money he also supervised temple renovation work. For his gesture his icon was later enshrined on the main tower of the temple. There is a separate shrine for him in the temples fore-court.
Nalli Kuppuswami Chettiar, a renowned silk industrialist, a Padmasree awardee, an author of many business books in Tamil, has also written a book on Padagacheri Swamigal.
He travelled widely, met several disciples of the Swamigal, interviewed them, collected documents and wrote the book Padagacheri Mahaan which is exhaustive and authoritative. It has gone into several editions in a short span. Besides writing this book Nalli Chettiar also took interest in developing the abode of the Swamigal in Kumbakonam which was left uncared for over the years. The holy place was full of thorny bushes when Chettiar visited the place a decade ago. Chettiar spruced up the place raised new building and added a shrine for Lord Nataraja. The abode of the Swamigal has now joined the list of pilgrims’ spots in and around Kumbakonam.
